What to do in your home to save on utility bills.
Saving money on utility bills may be done by making a few simple adjustments in your home or apartments - whether you own a home or rent. Almost everything thing that can be done to cut back on monthly energy bills is simple and most of them are free to do. Whether you’re trying to cut back on electricity, heating, or "cooling" costs, there are many practical changes both small and large - that can help. In order to be a more energy efficient household, consider the following ideas to save money on your home utility costs.
Steps to take in your home to save money on utility costs
1) Open shades and blinds in winter. Let the sun heat your home naturally by opening curtains during the day in winter. Solar heat gain will increase interior temperature significantly in the day. But close those shades and blinds at night to minimize heat loss. Save pp to $10/month in heating costs.
2) Close curtains and blinds during hot days. In the summer, keep blinds and curtains closed during peak sunlight hours to block out heat and reduce air conditioning use. Depending on where you live (southern states, etc). estimated savings can be as high as $15 month on home heating costs.
3) Avoid placing lamps, electronics like a hot running computer or television near your room-air conditioning thermostat. The thermostat senses the heat given off by these appliances and in turn, will cause the air conditioner to run at longer intervals.
4) Use ceiling fans to circulate air and reduce reliance on HVACs. If you have ceiling fans throughout your home, use them to reduce the cost of your utilities. One way to do this is to “flip the switch” near the blades of the fan. By flipping the switch in warm weather months, the blades will spin in a counterclockwise direction, which creates a “wind chill” effect. In winter months, flip the switch to a clockwise position to create a gentle updraft effect. This will push warm air down from the ceiling to the more occupied area of a room.
- A ceiling fan that is in proportion to a room can be highly effective in cooling or warming the area. Typically, a fan that is 36-44 inches in diameter will cool rooms up to 225 square feet. A bigger room will require a bigger ceiling fan or multiple fans for temperature comforts.
- Adjust your thermostat when using a ceiling fan concurrently to reduce energy costs. In summer months, you can turn the thermostat up 3-5 degrees without feeling uncomfortable, and it can save a substantial amount of money on air conditioning bills. This will save money as utilizing your ceiling fan is less costly than running an air conditioner unit. During the winter months, lower the thermostat set point by 3-5 degrees as well as the ceiling fan will push warm air down to the living area of a room.
- another key point - If you are out of your home or out of a particular room, turn the fan off entirely. Or even use a motion sensor to turn it off. There is no reason to run the fan if the room is unoccupied.
5) Use programmable thermostats to save up to 10% on utilities - both during the summer and winter. They are simple to install, and are very cheap to buy and a thermostat can save as much as $150 per year. They allow a family to set the temperature of their home so it is not being heated or cooled when they are not even there. Read more on using programmable thermostats to save money.
6) Sealing air leaks is one of the easiest and most cost effective improvements you can make to your home, with potential savings as much as $200 per year. Use weather stripping and caulk (which are very affordable at stores like Home Depot, online at Amazon or Lowes) to seal leaks around windows and doors. This helps keep warm or cool air inside. This simple step will make the temperature inside comfortable and in turn, reduces the cost of the energy bill. The federal government can even pay for this cost as part of the free weatherization program.
- Common areas for air leaks within a home include holes drilled into walls, ceilings and attics where there are plumbing pipes and electrical lines. Outlet covers and recessed lights may also have small gaps. Check outside around your home where different building materials meet such as the foundation perimeter, around outdoor water faucets and where the siding/chimney meets. Indoors consider checking electrical and water services entrances, baseboards, door and window frames and attic hatches.
- Doors and windows with gaps at the frame need weather stripping. Small gaps such as around baseboards can typically be filled with caulk. Larger areas of air flow and holes such as those around pipes will probably need foam or foil insulation. Feeling these in cut back on cooling as well as winter heating bills.
- Seams or gaps in air ducts are typically sealed with a special duct sealant or metal tape which are available at home improvement stores. Lowes and Home Depot sell them for a few dollars, and that small expense will pay dividends in future savings.
7) Install LED lights and get them in your home. They last much longer. LEDs use about 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. If you were to install LED bulbs throughout your home or apartment, The median savings are 75 - $125 year for a typical household.
8) Use the cold-water wash cycle on your washing machine. Not all clothes need to be washed in warm or hot water. Heating water for laundry is energy-intensive. Most clothes wash just as well in cold water. Depending on your machine and how often you wash, it can save you $60 / month on your water or electric bills (if an electric/gas washer).
9) Unplug idle electronics. TVs, chargers, microwaves, and computers draw power even when off. Use power strips and turn them off when not in use. Or use hibernating feature or ”sleep” standby on your computer or other devices. It is simple to set this up one time. Estimated savings: $50–$100/year.
- A good tip here is to plug electronic items into a single power strip so that you can turn them all off at once. It makes it simple to turn everything off at the flip of a switch, thereby cutting back on electricity bills.
10) See if your utility company offers rebates if you replace old appliances with energy-efficient models. Some states will also hold periodic "tax holidays" for the purchasing of energy-efficient, Energy Star appliances. If you need to buy a new furnace or appliance, use these free rebates or if you are low-income find a free appliance for struggling households. If you are shopping, be sure to upgrade to ENERGY STAR-rated appliances when old ones wear out with estimated savings $300+/year depending on appliance.
11) Lower the water temperature in your water heater to 120 degrees from 130 or what is often standard of 140 degrees. In addition to that, another ways to save is insulate hot-water pipes will help an estimated $30 to $60 per year on your water bills.
12) Add insulation. Similar to the sealing leak concept above. Over 80 percent of older homes are under insulated. Add insulation to your attic, walls, and floors to improve temperature retention.. Properly sealing and insulating your home can help cut your cooling and heating bills by 10 percent or studies show $100 to $500 per year - of course depending on the size of your home and the climate you live in.
13) Lower the temperature a degree or two before any house guests arrive. As many know, a house full of people generates a lot of body heat. Another benefit of this tip is it will make the home more comfortable as it will be less stuffy.
14) Replace, or at least clean, furnace filters monthly during the heating or colling season. Dirty or clogged filters force the blower to work longer, thereby raising the amount you are paying on your electric bills. It also adds to the life of the HVAC system.
15) Plant a tree or more on the southwest and west sides of a house to save on energy bills. This helps with solar heating and/or cooling.
16) You need to call a professional energy auditor or your utility company as many offer home energy audits for free. They use infrared photography or a blower door to pinpoint where your home is leaking energy, and how you can save on electric and heating bills. This can also be done as part of weatherization. Some utility companies provide free energy audits; you can also find certified professionals in your area.
17) Look into low-flow, watersense approved appliances for water usage. This can include shower heads, low-flow toilets, attachments for faucets and the like. The concept is similar to Energy Star. Read more on saving on water bills including from the watersense program.
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