There are many things around the home that drain energy without us even noticing. That is, until we get the power bill at the end of the month.
Luckily, there are a few simple ways to cut those costs and make your home more energy efficient.
Save energy when doing laundry
The majority of energy used to power a wash cycle is from heating up the water. Contrary to popular belief, however, hot water isn’t necessary to get your clothes clean. Opt for cold water next laundry day and you’re sure to see a difference in your power bill.
Unplug energy-draining devices
If a device is not being used, that doesn’t mean it’s not driving up your energy bill every month. Idle printers, coffee makers, and anything else that is rechargeable is still using energy to stay on or stay in standby mode. If you unplug these devices, it lowers your power bill and benefits the battery life of the device.
Don’t overuse appliances
During the winter months, it’s important to remember to be efficient with your heater, and same goes for the air conditioner in the summer. Try to keep your thermostat at a comfortable and somewhat steady temperature. Your house uses more energy to keep up with the your settings if you’re changing them all the time, so keep it consistent and your energy bill will thank you!
Using LED lightbulbs
Most homes are wasting electricity on using traditional incandescent lightbulbs. This type of bulb uses 90 percent heat. This means that a 100-watt bulb is using 90 watts to generate heat and only 10 watts to produce light. An easy fix to this energy-draining problem is switching to LED lightbulbs that use less wattage to light up a room and have a longer life span.
Energy-saving light switches
It also doesn’t hurt to update the old light switches that you forget to turn off when you leave a room. Swap your standard switch for a timer that you can set to turn off whenever you want or install motion-sensing lights that will only stay on if someone’s in the room. This way, your lights will keep track of themselves and save you some energy costs.
It’s amazing what a difference these few changes can make when it comes to saving you money on your energy bill. For more energy saving tips, check out our website and be sure to give Accurate Home Inspections a call to discuss how our services can help you and your wallet!
