As homeowners, we’re always looking for ways to cut down on our bills. One of the biggest expenses for us, especially getting into this time of the year, are with heating and energy use. We’ve started insulating the house to hopefully cut down on our heating expenses and we’re looking into ways that we can become more energy efficient. Hopefully we’ll notice a difference in our monthly bills by using some of these easy energy saving tips.
“Projects that provide more energy efficiency have proven to help reduce heating and cooling costs, in some cases by up to 15 percent.” explains Danny Lipford, homebuilding expert and host of the television show “Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford.”
Lipford says that homeowners would be wise to seek every possible way to keep their homes energy efficient and resistant to moisture.
While new homes are 100 percent more energy efficient today than those built three decades ago, most people are not familiar with how to actually design energy savings into the infrastructure of their home.
In a typical U.S. home, appliances and electronics make up about 20% of energy use.
The first step is to look for Energy Star labels when buying appliances and products. Energy Star labels are strict guidelines created by the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency for energy efficiency. Follow some of these tips to help make the environment better for our future generations and save money at the same time.
8 Easy Energy Saving Tips
Light bulbs: Use energy saving CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs) instead of the conventional incandescent light bulbs. Although CFLs cost 3-5 times as much as the incandescent light bulb, CFLs only use one-quarter of the electricity and lasts years longer. Each CFL bulb contains 5mg of mercury so you will have an extra item to sort in the recycling bin.
Dishes: Never load your dishes in a dishwasher unless they are a full load. Air-dry dishes instead of using a dryer.
Laundry: Wash clothes with warm or cold water instead of hot water when you can. Instead of using a dryer, air-dry or hang your clothes on a clothes line. Don’t use the dryer unless it houses a full load. Try waiting until the evening or nighttime to do laundry.
Refrigerators: Think of what you want to take out before you open the refrigerator. Leaving the door open will waste extra energy.
Take Showers, less Baths: Taking showers instead of baths will reduce water usage and also lower your heating bill.
Turn Off all Appliances Not in Use: Turn off all lights, computers, and electronics when they are not in use. Plug all your electronics such as computers, TVs, and DVDs into power strips. Using a power strip can reduce electricity used to power home appliances. Even when your appliances are turned off, energy is still being consumed from the outlet. To avoid extra energy costs, unplug the appliance or use a power strip. The power strip has an off button to cut all the power from the appliance.
Weather-Strip Windows and Doors: Check windows and doors for air leaks. Air leaks can be sealed by caulking or weather-stripping. By securing the leaks in your home, hot and cool air will be kept in your home longer. Less heating and cooling will help you save on energy costs.
Look for Energy Star label: Energy Star labels are only given when appliances and products meet strict guidelines of energy efficiency from U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency.
Kori
Latest posts by Kori (see all)
- Cultivating A Happier Home Environment In 5 Steps - March 1, 2024
Great tips and I’ve got a couple more for you – if you actually wash dishes by hand and dry your clothes outside you can save a good 50 plus a month. More if you have a large family.
This summer I notice by line drying my clothes we saved a good $40 a month with just two people. Pretty Sweet!
We do wash our dishes by hand! I’ve always thought that saved money. We’ll start doing the line drying next summer, just need to put the laundry line back up.