7 Tips for Saving on your Energy Usage

Change your Routine

There are plenty of simple, everyday things we do that can be adjusted, changed or reformed to approach them in more energy-saving ways. It’s as simple as hanging out your clothes on a line a couple of times a week instead of using the dryer, turning off box fans and lights when you leave a room, running down the thermostat if you’re going to be gone all day, making sure appliances and devices aren’t plugged in when they don’t need to be, managing the duration of your showers, and occasionally washing dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher every time. These little actions can greatly reduce your energy consumption, and you’ll see the results on your electric bill.

Replace Light Bulbs

Traditional, old school light bulbs are huge wasters of energy. If you can, switching to environmentally sound LED/halogen bulbs can reduce your energy consumption from 25% to a whopping 80%. If you can’t stand to waste something that still works, wait until your next bulb blows and then make the switch. You’ll be surprised at what a difference it makes (and an added bonus is that LED and halogen bulbs last way longer). 

“Smart” Appliances

Many people balk at the idea of smart appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators, and smart thermostats. While the upfront costs of these appliances seems quite expensive, the money they save you in the long run is nothing to laugh at. To say nothing of how good they are for the environment. So much so that many power companies will give you major rebates and discounts just for switching to smart appliances such as water heaters or thermostats. These appliances pay for themselves in short order both in efficiency and how much money they save you every month. 

Conserve Power with Power Strips

If you have a home office or use a lot of different devices, computers and electronics, a power strip will not only safeguard those electronic devices, but it’ll help conserve energy, too. It also protects you from unexpected risks like bad weather or property damage. Power stirps are inexpensive and easy to use, so if you have a lot of electronics vying for your outlets, switching over to them for every room in the house is a good idea. 

Energy Efficient Home Additions

If you’re building or re-modeling, consider energy-efficient additions to your home, such as energy efficient and light blocking windows, solar panels, and more. In recent years, these “luxury” eco-friendly measures have become much more affordable and come in a wide variety of options and styles. And not only do they conserve energy but they’ll save you serious money, both on your power bill and via incentives offered by your utility companies. 

Update or Upgrade your HVAC

Old and outdated HVAC systems are the biggest user of energy and can cost you tons on your electric bill, especially in the winter and summer months. If you can, upgrading or updating your HVAC system to use newer, more efficient and energy-saving materials can save you so much money, and will be much kinder to the environment. 

Boilers

Water usage, especially water heaters, are a huge user of energy. Cutting back on lengthy showers, washing the dishes instead of using the dishwasher, and washing clothes on the cold setting are all helpful ways to reduce your energy usage, but another great way is to purchase a new A-rated boiler. New Boilers are reasonably expensive, come in a variety of options, easy to install and can save you a lot of money while reducing your energy consumption. 

These are just a few ways that you can reduce the amount of energy you consume in the home every single day. You’ll feel great about helping the environment while saving a great deal of money on utilities costs every month. Try these energy saving tips to help the planet, bit by bit.  

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