There’s no doubt that having a home of your own means paying bills. Considering that, many people notice that their energy bills remain quite costly. You don’t need to wait for another expensive energy bill to arrive in the mail. Implementing a few simple tips will help ensure your energy costs remain as low as possible. In this post, you’ll learn helpful techniques to lower your energy bills.
Reducing Energy Consumption
Recent research shows that the average American household spends about $2,200 each year on energy costs. Considering that, it’s understandable to want to learn how you can reduce energy consumption. With that in mind, here are four smart ways to reduce energy consumption throughout your home.
Doing Your Dishes in an Efficient Manner
Whether you live on your own or with others, you’ll spend quite a bit of time doing dishes. With that in mind, it’s important to wait until your dishwasher is full before running this appliance. It might seem convenient to use a dishwasher’s drying option. However, you’ll save energy and money by simply allowing the dishes to air dry. If you’re in a hurry, you can dry these dishes yourself by using a kitchen rag.
Decreasing Energy Consumption by Updating Your Lighting
Many energy efficient home solutions don’t require a lot of work to implement. With that in mind, you can lower energy consumption by changing the light bulbs in your home. Certain individuals replace standard on and off switches with dimmer options. Dimmer switches reduce energy consumption while giving you more freedom regarding your home’s lighting. In addition, you’ll save on energy costs by choosing energy efficient light bulbs. These bulbs often last much longer than their incandescent counterparts, all while using far less energy. To further lower energy consumption, make sure you’re turning off lights in unoccupied rooms.
Reducing Heating and Cooling Costs
Many appliances and items throughout your home use energy. If you’re wanting to lower monthly energy bills, it’s wise to reduce heating and cooling costs. In fact, nearly 50% of an average household’s energy bill goes towards heating and cooling. Considering that, you can reduce your energy bill by purchasing a smart thermostat. This type of smart home technology allows you to have more control over your HVAC system. You’ll also notice major changes by purchasing an energy efficient HVAC unit. If your HVAC system is between 10 to 15 years old, it’s wise to consider upgrading to a new and more efficient unit.
Washing and Drying Clothes While Using Less Energy
Not many people give much thought to washing and drying their clothes. These are often tasks that are considered mundane. That being said, doing your laundry might be more exciting if you’re saving money during this process. You can achieve this goal by only washing your clothes with cold water. Don’t worry, many types of detergent are able to clean your clothes while using this setting. Research shows you can save, on average, $63 each year by making this one simple change. If you don’t need dry clothes right away, consider letting them air dry. As long as you give each article of clothing enough space, you’ll have dry clothes without having to spend a single cent.
In closing, there are many ways to lower energy consumption throughout your home. In turn, you’ll be able to enjoy the feeling of seeing your energy bills decrease. Certain ways to save energy involve purchasing a few extra items. However, other previously mentioned tips don’t require spending any money. If you’re really wanting to lower energy consumption, consider combining all of these tips together.