You may not want to turn down the air-conditioning to gain savings, but you can implement several other strategies in a bid to reduce your monthly electrical bill.
1. Shut down the electronics. Your personal computer, game systems and smart phones drain precious energy when plugged in. Chances are each device can be disconnected over night, saving you money. Plug your devices into a power strip and turn that strip off when you’re ready to head for bed.
2. Make use of your window treatment. Hot, sunny days mean that your home is absorbing much energy. When the next hot spell heats, keep your blinds closed and your curtains drawn on the sun facing sides of your home. Your rooms will heat up slower and peak at a lower temperature, putting less strain on your climate control system.
3. Seal your garage. Garages that are attached to homes can leak air more so than the rest of the house. If your garage is climate controlled, inspect the doors to ensure proper sealing. Install insulation to maintain more even temperatures. For garages with tall ceilings, a ceiling fan can circulate air more evenly too.
4. Replace your lightbulbs. Compact fluorescent lightbulb technology mans that many of the bulbs in your home can be replaced with ENERGY STAR-certified bulbs. You will pay more for these bulbs, but they last longer and consume much less energy. You’ll get your investment back within a few years and keep saving for many years with the same bulb.
5. Shop for energy smart appliances. If you are in the market to buy new appliances, shop carefully for the most efficient appliances available. Refrigerators, freezers, water coolers and dishwashers are rated by ENERGY STAR, offering ratings and labeling to demonstrate energy consumption. Most appliances built today are much more efficient than appliances built 10 years ago.
6. Keep it Full. A half filled refrigerator or freezer runs harder than one that is full, consuming more energy. Repair broken door sills, dust your refrigerator coils and turn off that seldom-used second refrigerator in your garage. Contact your energy company to recycle your old fridge — you ay even benefit from a rebate.
7. Heating and Cooling. Like many major appliances, new HVAC systems are also ENERGY STAR rated. When your old system needs to be replaced, shop for the most efficient unit. For your current system, replace your filters regular for maximum operation efficiency. Set your winter thermostat to 65 degrees and your summer thermostat to 78 degrees. Make use of both ceiling and floor fans to circulate air.
Energy Savings
Even employing one or two strategies can shave dollars off of your home energy bills each month. Your energy company may also offer a free energy audit, sending a representative to your home to help you identify waste and develop a personal energy savings strategy.
See Also — 10 Things You Can Do to Save Money on Your Home Energy Costs
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