Saving energy costs at home isn’t just about protecting the environment or reducing your carbon footprint. It’s also about saving money. And whether you’re thinking of installing solar panels in the near future or cutting your energy consumption to a fraction of what it is today, this article will give you plenty of tips to help you make these changes.
What Are Some Ways to Save Energy Costs at Home?
Minimize Phantom Loads
The culprits behind phantom loads are something that most of us never think about. Kitchen appliances and gadgets, such as microwaves, toasters, coffee makers, and even curling irons can drain electricity from your home during the times you are not using these items. As per https://www.trustedsolar.com.au/locations/solar-power-brisbane/, these appliances will continue to suck electricity without you realizing it, just because they’re plugged in. You can save money by making sure that your appliances have a proper place in your home that allows them to have access to electricity when they need it, but blocks it when they are not in use.
Use More Energy-efficient Appliances
How can you tell if a refrigerator is energy efficient? The Energy Star logo on the refrigerator door means it has been analyzed for energy consumption and water efficiency. When purchasing an appliance then make sure to check out its Energy Guide label. This tells you how much energy the appliance will use per year.
It’s not just new appliances that are important either. If your home already has some appliances, make sure to check their energy rating. You can do this yourself with an appliance energy label or have an electrician run an audit of your house.
Change Your Light Bulbs
Lighting typically accounts for about 20 percent of the energy used in your home. To offset this, swap every bulb you can with an Energy Star-rated one. According to Energy Star’s website, Energy Star certified bulbs are about 25% more efficient than standard incandescent bulbs, while halogen and fluorescent lights are about 15 percent more efficient. An easy way to start is by replacing your light bulbs with decorative and hard-to-reach outdoor fixtures.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
An easy way to start saving energy costs at home is to use a programmable thermostat. It will not only save you money, but it can also save your life! It can be hard to get up and go to bed at the same time every day, but the programmable thermostat will do it for you. Adjust the thermostat by just a few degrees and you can save hundreds of dollars a year. The average American family spends about $200 per year on just heating or cooling their home unnecessarily when nobody is home- and that
Make Windows More Efficient
If you think of your home as a system, you can make adjustments throughout the home and see positive results. One easy change you can make is to install energy-efficient windows. Windows are one of the most influential contributors to your monthly energy costs, so it makes sense that replacing windows with more efficient ones could save you a noticeable amount of money over time. Since they are an important part of your daily life, you want your windows to function as efficiently as possible.
Seal Air Leaks
You might be spending hundreds of dollars a year on energy bills, which is no good. Before you think about calling up an HVAC contractor to have them inspect your heating and cooling system, take a closer look at your home. Are there any cracks or holes around the doors and windows? Is the caulking around your bathtub or toilet tank still in good shape? Do you have any leaks that need fixing?
If so, you might be able to save a lot of money on energy costs by taking care of those problems yourself. Although it’s impossible to stop all air from escaping through the gaps and cracks in your house, you can significantly minimize these leaks by simply sealing them up – it only takes a few minutes and costs nothing at all.
Installing HVAC access doors and panels provides safe and quick access during repairs and inspection maintenance.
Improve Insulation
Improving the insulation in your home is also essential to reduce your energy bills. The best thing about insulation is the added benefit that it increases your home’s resale value. Major improvement projects like attics are expensive but you should still start with a few low-cost improvements that make a big difference, such as weather-stripping doors and sealing holes in walls, floors, and ceilings.
Energy is one of the major expenses and we always look for ways to cheapen it. You can start with some of these simple solutions we have provided at home to help reduce the bills.
