Tips to Reduce Energy Bills

Small habits, such as taking long showers or leaving lights and ceiling fans on when leaving a room, quickly add up and contribute to higher energy costs. There are many ways to reduce waste and lower your bills:

Use power strips:

Plug home electronics like gaming consoles, computers, and lamps into power strips. Turn the power strips off when they are not in use.

Add Insulation:

Weather-stripping, or placing materials around door frames, blocks out cold air by creating an airtight seal. This process also helps soundproof the home by blocking out outside noise. Covering windows with thick drapes is an easy way to add another layer of insulation.

Buy Energy-efficient appliances:

It's not just a marketing gimmick. It's reported that energy-star qualified dishwashers save an average of 5,000 gallons of water a year and are a better alternative than hand-washing. When shopping for new appliances like dishwashers and washing machines, consider purchasing ones that are energy-star certified.

Air-dry dishes:

Instead of using the dishwasher drying cycle, open the dishwasher and pull the racks out. Allow the dishes to air dry.

Manage the temperature in your home:

In the summer, use the AC as the last resort. Ceiling fans use 90% less energy than air conditioners. Consider turning them on and only using the AC in extreme temperatures. Every additional degree of heating or cooling uses more energy. Adjusting the temperature during hours when nobody is home can make a big difference.

Switch to LED bulbs:

Energy-efficient LED bulbs use about 75% less energy and last much longer than traditional bulbs. With lighting accounting for 10-20% of energy use in most homes, making this shift can help a lot.

Adjust your showers:

Consider taking shorter showers and installing a low-flow showerhead that uses less water.

Add Trees:

Plant trees outside the home to create shade and keep it cooler in the summer.

Employ technology:

Motion sensors, dimmers, programmable thermostats and appliances connected to the internet are all great ways to reduce costs and use energy only when needed.

Run maximum capacity loads:

Before washing a load of dishes or laundry, ensure the dishwasher and washing machine are full to reduce waste and cost. Just be sure not to overload them as that can cause other issues.

Close doors and windows:

When turning the air conditioner or thermostat on, ensure all windows and doors in the house are closed.

Implementing just two or three small changes could help you to see a difference in your monthly bills.