If youโre like most people, youโre tired of paying more each time you receive your energy bills. Just when you think they canโt get any higher, you open the bill and see another unpleasant surprise. The good news is that there are some easy ways to reduce electricity consumption and lower your bill, not just for one month but permanently. Here are five household energy-saving tips that can save you money.
Household Energy Saving Tip #1: Change Your Light Bulbs
One of the simplest changes you can make towards energy conservation is as simple as switching out your old incandescent bulbs and replacing them with LED bulbs. Even compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use more energy than LEDs. LED light bulbs last longer and use far less energy to run. They also donโt produce as much heat, which can also help keep your cooling costs lower.
LED lighting used to cost tons more than incandescent. Now, even better manufacturing and higher demand have significantly reduced the pricing on these bulbs. We recommend targeting ceiling can lights, bathroom vanity fixtures, and those potentially huge fixtures in your entry and dining rooms. After that, replacing garage lights, lamps, and other fixtures simply put the icing on the proverbial cake.
Try to avoid blue or โsuper whiteโ bulbs. Those have a color temperature of 7000K or more and work just fine in utility rooms and closets. Look for โDaylightโ bulbs for interior spaces where you live, work, and play. These bulbs may also be labeled with a color temperature, like 5000K, which represents a color of light closer to that put out by the sun. Anything labeled 2700K or similar will come across as yellow.
Choose a Programmable Thermostat
Because heating and cooling are the largest portions of mostย peopleโs energy bills, you can save money just by using something the best Nest thermostat you can find (or a similar product). If you want something as expensive as the Nest, then opt for an Energy Star model, as they are pre-programmed with settings designed to maximize your savings. Of all of the household energy-saving tips we have, this may save you the most. Most people save around $180 onย their annual energy costs just by using one of these programmable thermostats. The best thermostats allow you to set vacation modes and also daytime and nighttime settings for optimal cost savings.
Switch to Energy Star Appliances
The appliances in your home account for nearly one-fifth ofย the energy you use every month. Refrigerators, washing machines, and clothes dryers areย among the largest electricity consumers. Although upgrading your appliancesย to Energy Star models may seem expensive at first, youโll see a significant decrease in your monthly energy costs. Plus, some utility companies areย offering rebates to customers who purchase Energy Star appliances for the homeย as a way of encouraging energy conservation. See our article on how tankless water heaters work for a good example of a cost-saving device with rebates.
Add a Water Heater Timer
If itโs time to replace your old water heater, switch to the most energy-efficient model you can find. In terms of household energy-saving tips, this is a big one. If you need to wait a few more years, and you have an electric water heater, pick up an inexpensive water heater timer and install it in your existing unit. The timer automatically shuts off the water heater at times when you wonโt need it, such as when youโre at work or when youโre sleeping. Although you wonโt save as much as you would with an Energy Star water heater, you can cut your costs a little bit and every little bit counts.
Replace or Insulate Your Windows
Our windows are one of the biggest sources of escapedย heating and cooling. Older windows are highly inefficient and donโt do anythingย to help our homes maintain a stable temperature. By replacing your existingย windows with double or triple-pane high-efficiency windows, you can reduce energy loss and decrease the costs of keeping your home comfortable.
If youย think replacing the windows might be a bad idea right now, itโs not. In manyย cases, these types of home improvement projects are going to help lower yourย federal taxes and score rebates. Plus, many utility companies will also offer you a rebate onceย youโve purchased them. Speaking of purchasingโNEVER buy windows from a person who randomly shows up at your door. Those are almost always scams. Hire a professional contractor or go through normal retail channels.
If you canโt replace your windows right away or it seems cost-prohibitive, then at least look for leaks around the borders. Purchase insulation tape to shore up any obvious leaks.
Final Thoughts
Using these tips will help decrease your energyย usage and costs, which should result in a pleasant surprise the next timeย you open your utility bill.
Alsoโdid we miss anything? If so, be sure to leave a comment!
