How much are you paying out on your energy bills? Many people are paying more than they need to due to inefficiencies and lack of knowledge and know-how to look at how they can reduce their energy consumption and bills.
Remove Drafts
Make sure you aren’t losing heat from your home via inefficient windows and doors. Poorly maintained or damaged window seals can allow heat to escape your home, pushing up your energy bills. If you can’t afford to replace units that aren’t working as they should, then choose window coverings and temporary repairs to allow you to block the draft and keep as much heat inside the home.
Solar Power
Not all homeowners can afford to install solar panels; however, that doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from solar energy and reduced energy bills and eco-initiatives. See if you can sign up for community solar projects that allow you to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your energy bills too.
Turn Your Thermostat Down
The wildly popular meme poking fun at dads for not allowing the thermostat to be turned up aren’t far off the mark. Instead, keeping your home at a consistent temperature all year round can help you to reduce your energy bills instead of turning the thermostat up when it gets too cold.
It is also an idea to reduce the hot water temperature too. This may feel like you need to suffer from colder showers; however, a couple of degrees won’t really make much difference, and you can reduce this at intervals, so it doesn’t feel like it is such a big change.
Layer Up
Layers are your best friend when it is too cold. Use blankets to wrap up in or to warm up colder furniture or beds—the same with clothing. Keeping your feet warm can help you to stave off the cold.
Soft Furnishings
Rugs on hardwood flooring can minimize how cold your home feels. Floor-length curtains can block drafts out on cold days and help to keep the sun out when temperatures rise. Keeping your curtains drawn when evening sets in during the winter or around midday in summer can help your home to regulate the temperature and either block excessive heat out or keep the warmth in.
Energy Efficient Swaps
Changing your appliances to more energy-efficient options when they need replacing can help you keep your energy bills down. Can energy-efficient lighting and timers help you turn off any appliances overnight or when you are out of the house at work during the day?
LED and compact fluorescent bulbs can reduce your energy consumption and bring your bills down by $75 per year by changing just 5 bulbs. Use smart power strips to keep a trickle of energy running to appliances such as TVs that need to be on standby at all times. This will reduce how much energy they use over a year.
Conserve Water
Check for any leaks around your home in the pipes or faucets, and try to be more economical with the amount of water you use. Take showers instead of baths and keep them short. Swap your showerhead to a more efficient showerhead.
These changes are only small, but they can add up to some considerable savings through the year.
