Getting the most out of the energy you use is not just good for the environment, it’s good for your bank balance too. There are several ways you can do it. Some require monetary investment and expert help while there are other methods that cost almost nothing at all and take just a couple of minutes to install. There are also ways that are free and require just a few changes in your habits.
You may be able to save a few hundred dollars if you adopt some of the following habits in your home.
- Lower Your Thermostat
If you’re not at home for several hours during the day, lower the temperature on your thermostat. Better still, install a timer and set it to switch your heating and water on an hour before you get home. Even if you just drop the temp between three to five degrees, you’ll make a considerable saving on your utility bill and use less energy.
- Insulation
When your attic isn’t correctly insulated, you could be wasting several hundred dollars every year. A huge amount of heat is wasted if your roof and walls are poorly insulated. Making sure all your windows and doors are properly sealed will also make a big difference to the size of your utility bills.
- Change the Way You Use Water
Change the way you use water in your home, and you could save a couple of hundred dollars every year. Take a shower instead of running a bath. Turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth. Run only completely full loads in your washer and change to a water-saving showerhead.
- Install Solar Panels
Installing home solar systems from Going Solar will mean you can generate some of your own heat or power. You may need to make a sizeable investment in this type of system; however, it will help you save money overall on your energy bills in the long run. Because you’re generating your own energy, there’s no need for you to rely on energy created from fossil fuels. It’s also possible that this type of installation will help you qualify for annual tax incentives.
- Replace Incandescent Lights
Lighting your home accounts for more than 10% of your energy usage and incandescent lights are very inefficient. LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) are far more efficient and can reduce your energy usage by as much as 75%.
- Be an Energy Smart Cook
You might not realize it, but a huge amount of energy is wasted when you cook. Less wasteful ways of cooking include using convection rather than conventional ovens. Use a microwave oven and the savings can be as much as 80%. Use lids on pots and pans as this will heat food more quickly. Using a pressure cooker will reduce cooking time even further.
These are just a few examples of the things you can do to reduce your energy usage, become more energy efficient and help reduce the impact you have on our environment. To add to these valid reasons for making such changes you get to save money on your energy bills too.
