Have you opened up your electricity bill recently and been unpleasantly surprised by the amount due? We’ve all been there – but it doesn’t have to be that way!
While a large percent of our monthly household income unavoidably goes toward utilities, practicing energy conservation within our homes can help lower that electricity bill to a manageable amount, no matter what the season.
Here are some simple tips anyone can put into practice. Try them, and you might be pleasantly surprised the next time you open that bill!
Be conservative with your thermostat settings!
This may seem like a no-brainer, but running the air conditioning in the summer and the heat in the winter takes a huge amount of energy. A simple rule to follow is this: keep your thermostat set to a maximum of 68 degrees in the winter, and 76 degrees in the summer.
Your home will stay comfortable, but it will make a noticeable difference in your overall energy consumption. Consider installing a programmable thermostat that can be controlled with your smart phone for even more control over energy use.
Use those ceiling fans!
Most ceiling fans have a switch that changes the direction in which the blades rotate. Flip that switch so that the blades push down the warm air in the colder months, and flip it back in the warmer months to create a cool breeze. Your heating and air conditioning won’t have to work as hard to regulate the interior temperature.
Clean your filters and refrigerator coils!
Change the intake filter on your HVAC unit at least once every 30 days – the filter should come with instructions regarding a replacement schedule. Clean the coils on the back of your refrigerator so that it can cool more efficiently – a simple Google search will reveal tons of helpful cleaning tips and tricks. Clean filters and coils ensure that your units and appliances don’t have to work too hard to do their jobs.
Unplug it!
Appliances or electronics that are turned off, but left plugged in, still leech energy even when not in use. Take an extra step to unplug your coffee maker when you are done using it, take your phone charger out of the outlet when done, and disconnect your DVD player or Xbox. A simpler solution than remembering to unplug each individual appliance or electronic device? Plug several of them into a power strip, and just turn the power strip off when not in use.
By making these tips a habit and incorporating them into your daily life, you can find easy and simple ways to manage your energy consumption and have a little more money left over after paying your utility bills.