March 28, 2024

If you are like most people, reducing your energy usage at home in order to save more money on your monthly utility bill and reduce the strain on the environment is at the top of your priority list. Luckily, reducing energy usage at home can be as simple as turning out the lights or closing the blinds. For a few easy tips on how to conserve energy and save on your monthly power bill, read on:

Heat and Cool Your Home Efficiently

One of the biggest energy users and wasters are heating and cooling systems, especially those that are outdated and operate inefficiently. In order to make sure you’re getting optimal performance out of your heating and cooling system, annual maintenance is a must. Call a qualified contractor to perform a check of your systems, and make sure you’re changing your filters regularly.

In addition to making sure that your heating and air conditioning systems are working properly, you can also save money by setting your heating and cooling systems to a thermostat and schedule.

Read More: How Your AC Unit Prevents Mold in the Home

To make sure that the thermostat is accurate, make sure it’s placed in a room of average temperature, and keep windows and doors closed to prevent air from escaping. Turn your heating and cooling systems to appropriate levels during the evening, or in the daytime when you’re away from the house.

A light bulb

Use Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Energy-efficient light bulbs will help you to reduce your energy usage and save money on your monthly utility bill. The EPA estimates that if every home in America replaced just one of their traditional light bulbs with an ENERGY STAR-approved bulb, enough energy would be saved to power over 3 million homes, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 800,000 vehicles.

Use Energy Efficient Appliances

In addition to changing out all of your light bulbs, switching out old appliances for new and improved energy-efficient ones will save lots of moolah and energy. If you can afford it, updating your refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer, and dishwasher can help to conserve and save each and every month. Plus, by installing energy-efficient appliances, you may qualify for a tax refund.

An energy-efficient water heater is a great investment as well. If you can’t afford a new water heater, turn down the temperature on your water heater a few degrees. You won’t notice the difference in the shower, but you’ll definitely notice the change in your monthly bill. Additionally, try reducing your hot water usage by taking slightly shorter showers and turning off the tap when not in use, such as when you’re washing your face in the morning.

Take Advantage of Natural Lighting

Rather than flipping on a light switch every time you walk into a room, design spaces of your house around those areas which are already benefiting from natural light. Not only is natural light beneficial to you, but taking advantage of it helps out the environment and your pocketbook, too.

On the same token, make sure you pull the shades shut on hot summer days to avoid overheating your house, causing the air conditioner to do more work than it needs to.

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