Keeping energy costs low doesn’t have to mean huge lifestyle changes. Here are simple and budget-friendly ways to save energy in your home.
Turn off the lights when you’re not using a room
Summer days can be great for relaxing at home, but leaving the lights on might also cost you. As tempting as it may be to let the lights stay on when you’re not in a certain room, turning them off will save lots of energy and help lighten your electric bill. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort or convenience either; just invest some time into finding efficient alternatives like candles, lamps, or sensors that only activate when someone enters a room.
These strategies may seem small, but taken altogether they can make a big impact when it comes to conserving energy in your own home.
Review your thermostat settings
Every day, your home is using energy for heating and cooling. If your thermostat settings are high in the summer and low in the winter, you may be spending far too much on utility bills as well as running up a high carbon footprint. Try resetting your thermostat seasonally or program it to turn off when you’re leaving the house or sleeping. This small tweak can make a big difference over time—not only will it save you money, but it also helps reduce electricity emissions that harm our planet!
Keep your ducts clean
Keeping your ducts clean is a great way to save energy in your home. Duct cleaning can improve the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling system, as ducts that are clogged with dirt and debris reduce the amount of air that flows through the ducts. This causes poor air or even no air flow which forces the heating and cooling system to do more work than necessary.
Not only does duct cleaning result in improved efficiency and better air quality, but it also decreases noise pollution coming from your ducts while they are running. By making sure your ducts are free from dirt, dust, and debris, you’ll be able to get more out of your energy usage while also saving money on both monthly utility bills and costly repairs.
Take shorter showers to conserve water
One of the simplest and most effective ways to conserve energy in your home is to take shorter showers. Shortening your shower time by even just a couple of minutes can significantly save water, and subsequently, reduce electricity use when it comes to running the hot water. Taking shorter showers can also be beneficial for your budget, as turning on hot water accounts for approximately 18% of home energy costs.
While it may feel nice after a long day to stand under the showerhead for what feels like an eternity, resist the urge and make sure you’re not overusing a precious resource: energy! Making minor changes like this one can pay off in the long run with both environmental impact and savings on household bills.
Wash clothes in cold or warm water
Conserving energy in the home is a simple but effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. We can start with small changes such as washing clothes in cold or warm water instead of hot and air-drying them when possible. Washing clothes with cold water is just as effective as using hotter temperature settings, and it will save you money too!
Air-drying clothes are a great alternative for those sunny spring days, not only does it help reduce your energy use but it also helps keep your clothes from shrinking or getting that bothersome static cling.
Unplug all unused devices
To conserve energy in the home, one important first step is to get rid of the “energy vampires”. These vampires are devices, chargers, and electronics that draw power when left plugged in even though they are not in use. Unplugging them can significantly reduce our energy consumption without impacting our lifestyle as these items are rarely used.
Not only will this help us lower our own energy use, but it will also protect our environment from further carbon release – a win-win scenario! So remember to unplug all your unused gadgets and their chargers anytime you’re not using them to save energy at home and make sure you do your part for the planet.
Replace all incandescent light bulbs with LED
Consuming less energy is not only good for the environment, but it’s a great way to save money. One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to do this is to replace all the incandescent light bulbs in your home with LED lighting. LED lighting lasts much longer than traditional bulbs which can add up over time if you’re regularly replacing burned-out bulbs.
Additionally, LED lights are more energy efficient and use up to 80% less energy than standard bulbs. With just a few minor changes like replacing your light bulbs, you can make life-long savings toward your electric bill each month!
Aside from find best electric rates texas, taking these simple steps can make a big difference in conserving energy and keeping costs down!