Your home may take a large chunk out of your paycheck, and for good reason. If we think about all the resources it takes to run a functional home – electricity, air conditioning, water use, and more, a home costs a lot to upkeep and maintain. However, there are ways to remain frugal and efficient. We can turn our homes into machines of savings. Read on to find out the best energy saving tips for your home.
A typical U.S. home annually racks up about two thousand dollars in electricity and utility bills. Even worse, not all of that energy is put to use; a large part of it is wasted. We can control how we use electricity and how to curb our usage, alleviating monthly costs and further burning of fossil fuels that harm the environment. Energy efficient improvements not only make your home a more comfortable place, but in the long run, come with great financial rewards.
The first tip we can offer is actually a catalyst for really transforming your home into an energy saving machine. First, take a whole-house energy plan in which you outline and pinpoint the areas that would be most effective in cutting energy costs. For example, you could target key areas of your home that consume the most energy, and formulate a plan to identify and assign priorities to implement energy saving measures. For example, installing double paned efficient windows, checking for leakages of air in your home, and closing off any fireplace openings during the summer. Sealing cracks and gaps in your home coupled with adding insulation can save you about twenty percent on heating and cooling costs for your home.
Next, make sure your home is well insulated. Adding additional insulation in the attic, exterior walls, floors, and in the basements may be one of the best ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency levels. There are many other low cost things you can do. Small things like replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with CFL’s (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) can save you as much as seventy five percent of lighting costs. Whenever you leave your home, make sure to unplug electronics. Any device that is plugged into an electrical outlet, even if it’s not turned on can still use energy.
Homeowners that are smart about their appliances end up saving a lot of money every year. Investing in energy efficient appliances and keeping your equipment up to date is a huge incentive in the long run because these will save you a lot of money, up to 40 or 50% less in energy consumption. Little things such as adjusting your thermostat, even 5 or 6 degrees higher can save you about twenty percent on cooling costs. You can always turn on your ceiling fans or keeping a window open in cooler weather to save energy.
Another great energy saving tip for your home is to try to wash clothes in cold water when possible, since most of the energy used in washing machines goes towards heating the temperature of the water. It may also be smart to adjust your water heater to a low setting when you’re away for an extended period of time.