Utility bills can represent a costly expense for a homeowner. Saving energy in your home doesn’t have to be a challenge, nor do you have to suffer from the excess expense of wasted energy with your energy bill.
When you’re considering how best to tackle the utility bills, there are several strategies you can use to decrease your utility usage, therefore, reduce your overall expense. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Take a look at seals on windows, doors and appliances.
Make sure your refrigerator is well sealed to keep the cold air where it belongs. This also applies to your doors and windows. A bad seal allows energy to seep out.
Adjust your thermostat.
Set your thermostat back 10-15 degrees when you’re asleep or away from home. Doing so for eight hours can lower your annual heating and cooling costs by around 10%. A programmable thermostat will do the work for you. Home heating and cooling are a big culprit behind hefty utility bills though a great place to look for cost-cutting opportunities. The default temperature setting on water heaters is typically 140 degrees. Lowering it to 120 degrees can reduce your water heating costs by up to 10%. Leaving town for a few days? Turn your water heater to the lowest setting to conserve energy usage.
Examine and fix leaking faucets, these are places you may be wasting water.
Take a look at dripping faucets in your home or a toilet that runs even when it’s not in use? Take the time to examine those areas where you might be wasting energy without knowing you are doing so.
Replace your shower head. An efficient showerhead can reduce your water usage by 2,700 gallons per year. Consider the Water Sense label, which is certified to meet efficiency standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Take advantage of smart technology.
Smart technology can decrease many of those energy waste: sensors on the light switches can turn the lights off automatically when no one is in the room. A smart thermostat can allow you to adjust the temperatures for specific times of the day.
Managing the temperature in the summer and winter when no one is home can save you a substantial percentage of your utility bill each month–and still allow you to be comfortable when you come home.
Saving energy in your home doesn’t have to be a challenge, nor do you have to suffer from the excess expense of wasted energy with your energy bill. For more strategies read 15 Tips to Winterize Your Home.
Contact us today to learn how about Robuck Homes commitment to energy efficient homes.
