Quick Tips for Cutting Energy Costs

Cutting down on your energy bill is a continuous effort, and it’s easier than you may think!

In fact, some of the tips we’ll highlight today are a one-time effort that you can take care of and forget about until you start to notice the price drop on your next bill!

Laundry

Small loads are the enemy of energy bills!

If you can hold off a few days to get a fuller load, you’ll see real payoff. Stick to full or near capacity loads to reduce water and energy waste.

Other things you can do:

• Clean out your lint tray to reduce drying time
• Air-dry your clothes on a rack or line
• Turn down the temperature for not so dirty clothes (around 103° F)

Cooking

Rotating fans on convection ovens encourage a more even distribution of heat while using less energy—which translates to 20% less energy used than that of conventional ovens.

Other ideas:

• Keep your pans on appropriately-sized burners — avoid using the biggest burner for smaller pots or pans
• Keep pots/pans covered with a lid for faster heating
• In a conventional oven, keep your food on the top rack, where it gets hotter and will cook faster

Use Daylight

Why flip the switches when you have FREE and sustainable lighting from the sun? Keep lights and lamps off during the day if possible.

What you can do:

• Install skylights in the most used rooms of your home (think: living room, kitchen, etc.)
• Install light shelves, which are designed to bounce light into a room or space
• Clerestory windows are long, narrow windows positioned high on the wall to allow light into your home. Think about putting these in!

Heating & Cooling

This accounts for close to 50% of household energy bills, meaning you’d be wise to seek alternative methods to regulate your home’s temperature in a more budget-friendly way.

What you can do:

• Ceiling fans can cut down on energy costs and still keep you comfortable
• Consider a programmable thermostat that you can set to adjust the temperature at night or when no one is home
• Adjust the thermostat when you go out of town or when the house is empty
• Close curtains at night to insulate your room during the cold months, or during the day to keep out excess sunlight in the hotter months

Insulation

Air quality improvement and cut energy costs are two big benefits of a well-insulated and sealed home.

What you can do:

• Keep an eye on the attic where air leaks are most prevalent
• Consult an energy auditor to identify areas of your home with the greatest air leakage. We can help with this!
• Weather strip your windows and doors
• Replace or repair rotted, leaky or cracked windows and panes

Appliances

ENERGY STAR-rated appliances are the best choice when it comes to kitchen appliances, TVs, home entertainment systems, speakers and more.

What you can do:

• Unplug chargers and adapters when not in use
• Trade in your desktop for a laptop as they use much less energy
• Keep refrigerators and freezers out of direct sunlight and away from the stove, dishwasher or heat vents to prevent them from putting in extra work

Which of our essential energy-saving tips do you use in your home? We’d love to hear from you!

If you have doubts about your home’s energy efficiency, get in touch with us today!