If there’s one thing that none of us can avoid when it comes to the monthly bills that we pay, it would have to be our energy bills. That’s because if there are two things that we all need, it would have to be electricity and water.
But if you happen to be someone who has been looking for some things that you can do in order for your energy costs to decrease, you’re in luck. Over the next several minutes, we are going to provide you with some smart ideas for how you can save energy, which will ultimately save you money.
Check these effective tips below:
Install a programmable thermostat. If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, it’s a small addition that can make a really big difference in just about any home. That’s because it provides you with the opportunity to preset your thermostat so that the air and heat can run when you’re home and be off when you’re away. As an extra tip, it’s a good idea to keep in mind that you can set your thermostat to around 73 degrees and feel comfortable all year round.
Tint your windows. You may have already heard that adding some double-pane windows to your house can help to keep your energy costs down. Well, something else that can prove to be a beneficial home addition is tinted windows. Not only do they also help to shield your home from outdoor temperatures, but they can help to keep the sun’s rays from damaging your furniture, reduce the sun’s glare and they can also provide you with additional privacy (being that with them, you can look out but people cannot look into your home).
Purchase a low-flow showerhead and toilet. If you’ve been looking for some ways to save on your water bills, two things that you absolutely must have are a low-flow showerhead and toilet. They can save you literally hundreds of gallons of water each year and you can get both of them for under $300. Plus, they are fairly easy to install.
Turn on your ceiling fans. When it comes to maintaining whole house energy efficiency, something that you might not think to do is turn on your ceiling fans but you might be surprised by how much of a difference they can make. By using them in the summer, they can help to bring a cool breeze into the rooms of your house without the need to turn up your thermostat. In the winter, by rotating them counterclockwise, they can help to pull the heat from the ceiling down closer to where you are sitting.
Conduct an energy audit. Although we listed this one last, it could have just as easily been mentioned first because it’s an extremely important thing for every homeowner to do on an annual basis. There are a lot of us who tend to spend more on energy costs simply because we’re unaware of the fact that our attics need some new insulation, there are cracks along our windowsills or our plumbing is leaking. You can find most of this information out by conducting an energy audit. Remember, the sooner you know something is wrong, the quicker that you can fix it. For more information on how to conduct an energy audit, visit Energy.gov and put “conduct an energy audit” in the search field.
2 Comments
A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home during set periods of time throughout the week. Through proper use of pre-programmed settings, a programmable thermostat can save you about $180 every year in energy costs.