5 Ways to Save Energy
Winter is ending and the hot summer days are sneaking up on us. Summer and winter are the two times of the year that many households use the most energy. In many cases an automatic heating/cooling system is in place that kicks on whenever the temperature goes above/below the specified temperature. These systems end up causing higher energy bills, which we all hate. Everyone wants to keep their house comfortable, but everyone also wants to keep their bill as low as possible. So, what’s the happy medium? Here are 5 ways to save energy at home:
- Control the Thermostat
It’s tempting to just set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature and leave it there all day and all night, 24/7. Unfortunately, this is not the most energy efficient way to heat/cool your home. Adjust your thermostat to appropriately match your activities. What do I mean by “appropriately match”? If you’re planning on going out, raise your thermostat to around 80º, whether you’re going on vacation or just off to work for the day. This will put a lot less strain on your system while you’re out. When you get back change it back to your favorite temperature.
- Change Your Energy Supplier
Did you know that your energy supplier is possibly not the only choice for your area? Believe it or not, they likely have competitors and those competitors have lower prices! For example, if you live in Maryland, you have probably used BGE and assumed you always would. BGE’s current rate in Baltimore is $0.8964 /kWh. One competitor, ConEdison Solutions, has a current running rate of $0.819 /kWh. Switching your energy supplier can be tremendously easy and won’t eat up the entire day. Don’t worry though: your bill still comes from BGE, just with the lower rate in place! You will notice a difference immediately. Point Click Switch provides Maryland and Illinois with the ability to compare electricity rates free of charge.
- Using Mother Nature
You’ve probably seen those houses that have those huge trees next to their home. Accident or not, those trees can reduce energy by up to 25%. You can plant trees to the south and west sides of your home can provide you with some significant shade. After all, your home’s temperature all depends on the sun. The more shade the better when we’re looking at energy efficiency.
- Unplugging Electronics
Think about it: how many electronics are in your house and are plugged in at a time? Now, how many of those are in use? Some electronics can be serious energy-suckers! Some common examples we leave plugged in too often are:
- TVs
- Toasters
- Computers
- DVD Players
- Blenders
- Fax Machines
The large ones, such as TVs, can suck many Watts up while not in use. If you aren’t using these, just unplug them. Finally, be sure to turn all of your lights off when they aren’t needed. If you’re downstairs all day, don’t leave the lights on upstairs. These are simple yet effective ways to reduce your energy bill.
- Small Everyday Item Changes
We have many household items that we use every day that could be used to lower your energy bill! Purchasing certain home renovations can significantly reduce your bill. “Renovations? I don’t have that kind of money!” Renovations don’t always imply large projects. Actually, minor changes such as the light bulbs you use, how often you change the filter in the dryer, and keeping doors closed can keep the temperatures around the house constant, instead of constant fluctuation.
Saving energy may seem to be a daunting task, but in the end it’s all about being energy conscious. Most of the tips you find, you’ll read once and assume they are too simple to work, when in fact the simple tips are the most effective. Each of these 5 ways to save energy can be put to work today (with the exception of growing trees overnight). Don’t be fooled: you don’t have to spend huge sums of money just to save money.
