Easy-to-Follow Habits for Energy Savings
Posted on July 29, 2017
Have you ever looked at your bills say on an annual basis and calculated how much money you send to your utility company? Many homeowners pay colossal amounts each year with the trend going up as they add more and more equipment. Close to 89% of Americans believe that they are doing all they can to lower energy costs while 50% of them believe that their homes are already energy efficient. Despite efforts to economize, 59% are still experiencing higher bills.
Various researches have shown that on average, consumers make fewer energy efficient improvements annually than recommended. This makes us vulnerable to higher utility bills and certainly this is not good for the pocket.
Your Relationship with Energy
Energy is one of those products you buy literally on a daily basis without knowing its costs until the end of the month. With other services, you get to choose whether to buy or not based on the price, energy doesn’t give you that choice. Having an awareness that you could be spending your hard-earned money on energy that you don’t need each time you are out of your house and your AC is on high, can help in rethinking how to save power. The following assumptions jeopardize your energy efficiency efforts.
Newer homes are already energy efficient – Building codes change and this means even newer homes (less than 30 years old) can benefit immensely from improvements.
Utilities are exploitative – Some homeowners believe that irrespective of whatever they do, utility companies will always jack up prices. Instead of blaming the utilities, do your bit.
Energy improvements naturally pay for themselves – While this is the general feeling, energy improvements only reduce your total energy expenditure, but do not eliminate it within a short time.
Expensive improvements have the largest impact – Choosing pricey home improvement installations doesn’t necessarily mean that you will experience the most savings. Some of them only increase the value of your home, but do not take the energy burden away from you.
What Should You Do to Cut Your Energy Costs?
Here is a quick list of what you need to do to save every dime in energy expenditure.
- Caulk and seal air leaks – The areas to focus on when sealing air leaks include electric wires, windows, crawlspaces, attics, recessed lighting, and plumbing lines. You can save up to $227 per year.
- Hire a professional HVAC contractor – If your ductwork has a problem, it needs to be sealed and this can be professionally done by a HVAC expert. Leaky ducts have been cited as one of the common energy waster and when done well can save up to $400 a year.
- Program your thermostat – With programmable thermostats in the market, you can set the right temperatures for different rooms in your homes or for different times such as bedtime, holiday time, worktime, and so forth. This can save over $180 a year.
- Reduce your water heater temperature – The ideal temperature for your water heater should be 120 degrees and not 140 most are set to. You can also wrap your water heater and the piping network in insulating material. This can save you from significant heat loss.
In addition to the above, you may also consider installing LED bulbs because they are more cost effective and can save lots of money. Go for those that have Energy Star ratings.