We would all love to save money on our energy bill, but where to begin? Generally, you want to begin at home. For example, air conditioning and/or heating the home generally adds up to around half of the utility bills in most households. It only makes sense, then, that it’s easiest to start with measures to cut the heating & cooling bill.
If your house has central HVAC, for example, then you’ll want to check all the vents in the house for obstruction. This is especially true of vents in the floor, which might be covered by rugs, furniture and other items. Ceiling vents may also be blocked, by tall furniture such as bookcases. While checking, make sure to clean all your vents. If your home has a radiator, check and clean it as well. This is especially important for baseboard heaters, which could pose a fire hazard if not cleaned on a seasonal basis.
Another relatively inexpensive option is to invest in a sun shade for your outdoor air conditioning unit. A/C units which are shaded have been shown to use anywhere from 10% to 15% less electricity. Another simple, and even less expensive step, is to be sure to change your air filter on time. You wouldn’t believe how much harder your A/C unit has to work in order to make up for a clogged air filter!
Windows, while they may be pretty and functional, are also major areas from which heat loss occurs during the winter. Hence, taking measures to insulate windows each winter can result in a noticeable decrease in your wintertime energy bills. Keeping your windows’ weather stripping and caulk in good shape is one thing to do. Another would be to cover your windows in plastic (from the inside). There are inexpensive and easy-to-use kits available for just this purpose.
Another place to look is at your various household appliances. When it comes time to replace any appliance, be sure to see if there are any Energy Star-rated options available, and if there are, try to purchase the most energy efficient model you can afford. When dealing with existing appliances, make sure to watch out for “phantom drain.” This is the effect of power being used by an appliance even when it is switched to the off position. Using power strips which can be turned on and off as necessary is probably the easiest way of preventing the phantom drain.
Another handy tip is to make sure to pre-soak your dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. This will allow you to use a lighter wash cycle, and thus use both less energy and less water. Similar techniques will also help you save on your clothes washing as well; pre-treating for stains, and ensuring stains have come out before drying, can help avoid the need to re-wash the same item more than once.