September 06, 2011
Whether you’re looking for ways to reduce the amount of energy you use inside your home to save money or to be more environmentally conscious, even the smallest efforts can add up to a big difference. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Control the temperature inside whether you’re home or away.
Use a programmable thermostat to enhance the way you regulate your indoor temperature. Doing so will help you see energy savings of sometimes 25% or more with this simple step.
Close your blinds.
Rooms without blinds, curtains, or shades to block the sunlight will be warmer. Covered windows that block direct sunlight make it easier for your AC or heat pump to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Turn down the temperature setting on your hot water heater.
For every 10 degrees you reduce the water temperature, you can see savings of 3-5%.
Install timers where you use vent fans.
Most bathroom fans can remove moisture within 20 minutes. Timers help you avoid forgetting to turn them off.
Switch to energy efficient light bulbs, also known as CFLs.
They use a fraction of the electricity of traditional incandescent light bulbs and instead of lasting about 1,000 hours, they continue working for 10,000 hours or more. With CFLs, you consume less energy and need to replace bulbs less often.
Let your dishes air-dry.
Instead of using the heat cycle on your dishwasher, crack the door enough to allow the dishes to air-dry on the rack before putting them away. Eliminating the heat cycle will reduce your energy consumption and also keep from raising the temperature in your kitchen.
Clean the coils underneath or on the back of your refrigerator with a vacuum.
Dusty or dirty coils can cause the compressor to work harder than it needs to – which wastes energy.
Have your air conditioner or heat pump serviced.
Doing so keeps it running at peak efficiency, and maintenance that is scheduled before there is a problem helps avoid costly repairs in the future.
Make sure nothing is blocking baseboards or registers.
Curtains, bedding, furniture, or other items, can all obstruct airflow. When this happens, your HVAC system has to work harder to regulate temperatures to a comfortable level. The harder it works, the more energy is consumed and the more it costs you.
Make sure conditioned air isn’t escaping through gaps in your windows or doors.
Re-calk if necessary and check to see that your weatherstripping is doing it’s job. Weatherstripping can be purchased for next to nothing at your local hardware store.
Make sure attic is properly insulated.
The insulation in your attic should be no lower than 36” in depth. Proper insulation helps to cut down on excess energy loss.
Wash clothes in cold water.
Roughly 90% of the energy used in washing clothes in a washing machine is from heating the water. If you wash at least 80% of your laundry in cold water, however, you can see an annual savings from $60-100 on your energy bill.
Use a timer on your water heater.
According to energysavers.gov, if you have an electric water heater, you can save energy by installing a timer that turns it off at night when you don't use hot water and/or during your utility's peak demand times.
Power off standby devices.
Many types of equipment that can be turned off or remain in “standby mode” can still consume a great deal of energy. These devices include your DVD or Blu-ray player, power adapters for your laptop computer, and your TV, among other things. By unplugging the device from the wall socket, a great deal of energy can be conserved.
If you are looking for more ways to lower your energy costs, contact us. We have a team of qualified experts who specialize in helping you identify ways to conserve energy while staying comfortable.
Posted in: Tips