Whether you made a resolution or promise to yourself to cut spending or improve your home’s efficiency, we’ve got you covered. Cut costs and the energy usage of your home with these 11 tips:
Upgrade Appliances
Upgrade old appliances to ENERGY STAR® appliances to help cut down on energy bills. You can find products and appliances that are certified ENERGY STAR® efficient ranging from TVs to refrigerators to theater sound systems.
Install Solar Screens
Many solar screens block between 70-90% of the sun’s rays from coming through your windows. This can help reduce energy bills by as much as 30 percent! Additionally, keep blinds and drapes or curtains closed to help keep heat out on warm days.
Become A Fan of Fans
Using the ceiling fan in a room can help make it feel up to 7 degrees cooler. Just remember to turn it off when you leave the room– If no one is there to feel it cooling, it is wasted energy. In the winter, reverse your fan blades’ direction to help make the room feel warmer– doing so creates an updraft that forces warm air near the ceiling downwards. (Remember that warm air rises.)
Bright Idea
Updating your home’s lightbulbs to energy-efficient CFL or LED bulbs can help cut energy costs. Did you know that an ENERGY STAR-certified light bulb uses approximately 70-90 percent less energy and lasts 10-25 times longer than an ordinary lightbulb?
Wash Well
Washing your clothes in cold water helps save substantially on energy costs (and helps keep clothes from fading!). Be sure to further cut costs b hanging clothing to dry, or at least making sure that the dryer setting is accurate for the types and amount of clothing in the dryer. Be wary of accidentally running the dryer for longer than necessary.
Install A Programmable Thermostat
Installing a programmable thermostat, like the Nest Learning Thermostat, can help lower your heating and cooling bills significantly by auto-adjusting the temperatures inside around your schedule. For example, it will turn your home’s temperature up a bit while you’re away at work, and adjust it back to your desired temperature before you arrive home.
Turn your water heater down to 130° F degrees (since it’s probably higher than it needs to be)
Replace Your Air Filters
Replacing your air filters ought to be done every three months, but if that is not within your budget, replace them at least every six months. Dirty or clogged filters block proper airflow and decrease your HVAC system’s efficiency. Be sure to replace filters with the correct sized filter, otherwise you may end up burning out your system. We want to help keep you from having to replace, not break it!
Weather Stripping
Do you feel a draft near you window or around French doors? Check to see if the caulking or weather stripping has deteriorated or come loose. If so, replace it! Don’t let your precious air conditioning fly out the window!
Door Gaps
Similar to the tip above, making sure that air isn’t leaking out of your home from beneath exterior doors is a big way to save money. Doors ought to be tight fitting. Some energy-efficient door frames may even have magnetic strips to help ensure a tight seal. If you find a gap at the bottom of your door, replace the sweep of the door. Door sweeps are prone to deteriorating since they are frequently coming into contact with dirt and moisture.
Evacuate the Area Around Your HVAC
Make sure that nothing is blocking your HVAC unit to help keep it running efficiently. Clear at least a foot all the way around the unit so that no dirt, debris, bushes, mud, dead leaves, etc., are blocking it. If the system has dirt or debris inside, get it properly cleared and cleaned to keep it running smoothly.
Insulation
Properly insulate your home, and be sure not to neglect the attic. Not only will this help save you up to 20 percent in energy bills, but it will help keep you more comfortable inside on those hot summer days (and warmer in the few wintry days we do get!).
Is there a money-saving tip you utilize in your home? Tell us!
Equal Housing Opportunity. Equal Opportunity Employer.