Utilities can be a large expense relating to your home. If you live in a climate that is exceptionally cold in the winter or quite hot during the summer, you may be feeling the hit more than someone who lives in a milder climate. Your utility costs can add up and it’s important to be able to look for ways to cut back on costs in your own home. Per www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com, Americans spend $117.65/month on electricity (2018). Learning how to reduce this amount can add dollars to your pocket book to reduce your debt, set money aside for a dream vacation, or to boost up your retirement account. It’s not difficult to reduce electricity costs but it does take some effort and awareness.
Turn it Off
The amount of electricity can be reduced by being aware of what you keep on and plugged in. The U.S. Department of Energy says that 20% of your use comes from “phantom” loads and that means items that you are keeping plugged in even when not in use. When you leave a room, turn off the light. Turn off items on when not in use (TV, computer, radio). If you don’t want to completely turn off your computer because you need access frequently, put it on stand-by when you’ll be away for an extended time. Unplug items that are not in constant use (coffee makers, toasters, space heaters).
Change Your Filters
To keep costs down, it’s important to change your furnace filters regularly. The more clogged that the filters get, the harder that your HVAC works to maintain your preferred temperature. As a general rule of thumb, you should do this every 90 days.
Light Bulbs
Do you ever want to turn on lights, but wish they weren’t on full force and not so bright? Dimmers can be a great solution to this problem. It not only makes your eyes happier, but also your bottom line. It’s highly likely that it will also increase the longevity of your bulbs. Another way that you can reduce your electrical bills is to use compact fluorescent light bulbs. By going to www.energystar.gov, I found the following…
“If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars.
ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb’s lifetime.
Produce about 75 percent less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling.”
There is a little debate about purchasing these types of light bulbs since they are considerably more expensive than traditional bulbs. Is the consumer actually saving money? That is a good question and has to be investigated in each home. If you find that your traditional light bulbs need frequent changing, a switch in bulbs should be highly considered. Even though the original outlay in expense is more, you should be saving more in the long run. Not only will you see a decrease in your electric bill, but you are also helping the environment.
Solar
With enacting solar power for your home, it can be a hefty initial outlay of funds. Evaluate how much you spend on electricity and explore solar options for many different items in your home. Talk to a local solar representative about the costs and any federal or local rebates and specials. You may not even have to put any money down. Make sure you find out your break even point before deciding to take the plunge. If you’re looking to leave your home within a few years, it may not be worth the purchase. If you have a pool, you should also consider using solar instead of a traditional pool heater, especially if you live in a very sunny climate. We had this for our pool while living in Tampa, Florida. With the concern about using too much energy, there are many portable solar options for your phone, stove, and many others. Go through some of the options on this site. Vey interesting. https://www.energysage.com/energy-products/portable-solar-products/
Close Your Blinds
During the summer, the sun can heat up your room 10+ degrees in direct sunlight with open blinds making your AC work harder and increase your spending. Lower your blinds and close your curtains. Not only will your AC get a break, it will be overall cooler. In contrast, throw open the shades and curtains in the winter and bring all the natural sun and light inside. My youngest is prone to wanting to keep her window open regardless of the weather making our AC work harder in the summer (yes, windows open at 90 degrees outside) and the heat kicking on in the winter. Help me now!
Your Refrigerator
If you have your fridge stacked and packed to the brim and can barely see what’s in there, you may be inhibiting it from working optimally. You want to make sure that the cool air can circulate and move evenly through the space. It goes without saying that you should not hold open the fridge for five minutes at a time. About 7% of your refrigerator’s energy is wasted by keeping the door open. Moms, this one is for you and I feel your pain.
Fans
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, your AC costs you approximately 36 cents per hour to run, but turning on your ceiling fan only costs ONE. Yes, one cent per hour. It’s a no brainer. I know that there are a lot more attractive light fixtures out there, but if you’re talking about conserving energy and saving money, the ceiling fan is the way to go. I don’t recommend getting rid of the AC altogether, but you might be able to set the temperature up to four degrees warmer and save additional money. Your fan is reversible in direction for a reason. You want to push the hotter air down during the winter and lift the hotter hair up during the summer. Fans only are effective when you’re in the room so make sure you turn them off when you exit.
Laundry
If you are currently washing your clothes in HOT water, stop now. About 70% of the energy used for laundry is on heating the water alone. Making this small change can save you upwards of $60 per year. Not to mention that there will be less wear and tear on your clothes using cold water. Don’t worry about your clothes not being as effectively cleaned using cold water. Most detergents are designed to work with cold. For your dryer, try to empty your lint trap after every use. Especially after drying those darned towels. This may increase its efficiency by as much as 75% and also reduces the strain on the dryer. You can also choose to skip the dryer completely, especially during the warmer months. Reinstate old school drying lines. Not only will you save on your expenses, but you will also have your clothes smelling amazing with no dryer sheets needed.
We’ve only begun to scratch the surface relating to saving money on utilities. In a future blog post, we’ll finish up the list to be able to have you in the best financial position in making decisions benefitting your bottom line. Don’t let utility expenses overwhelm you. You can reduce costs without sacrificing your lifestyle.
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