Our homes have lots of things that use lots of electricity. Light bulbs, TVs, refrigerators, computers, and many other appliances. Each one of these things add up and are directly related to the price of your energy bills. These energy hogs don’t just hurt your wallet…they also have a major impact on the environment we all share.
In order to save some money (and the planet), try cutting back on some of these major contributors. The first and easiest way to reduce waste is to stop leaving lights on when they are not needed. Using one 60-watt fluorescent bulb for one hour will cost you somewhere near a penny. That doesn’t seem like much, but it definitely adds up quickly if you do it on a daily basis. You can also replace high wattage bulbs with lower wattage ones for areas where you do not need so much illumination. You probably won’t even notice the difference.
Major appliances and anything that heats up or cools down also require a lot of energy. Now is a great time to fine tune these appliances to make sure they are operating both effectively and efficiently. You may find that your refrigerator is too cold and your water heater is too hot. Simply adjust them and wait for the savings or have them repaired by a qualified technician.
Check out this nifty calculator to see how light bulbs and appliances affect your energy bills. You can plug in the rate you pay per kilowatt-hour and your usage, and it will estimate the cost. It is a great way monetize all of the little wastes in your home.
Make a list of things you think you can cut back on and give it a try. A few options for easy savings are: change the thermostat on your refrigerator so it is not running quite so much, turn off lights when they are not in use, crank the water heater down to around 150 degrees, and turn of the computer when you aren’t at home.
These are simple ideas, but they will definitely make a difference. In the end, it is not just about saving money–but also about truly going green. Reducing the amount of energy you use in your home is a great way to benefit the entire planet. What do you do in your home to save on energy costs? We’d love to know!
Check out these other great sites for more tips on how to save on energy costs:
Save Money on Your Cooling Bill This Summer (Ehomecomfort)
Home Energy Efficiency in Indianapolis (energysavvy.com)