Energy efficiency isn’t just the latest buzzword in the news and on social media. It’s an important part of reducing your carbon footprint and contributing to a greener world. When done correctly, practicing energy efficiency can also optimize your home’s appliances, HVAC systems, and water lines to perform more effectively. Even if you aren’t sold on the benefits of improving the planet (and who isn’t?), most homeowners at the very least want to reduce their utility bills. Are you ready to try a few things that help save the planet AND save you money? Find out more below about simple ways to make your home more energy-efficient!
Assess Your Energy Usage
The first step on your energy-saving journey is to assess how much energy you actually use. It’s hard to cut down on energy consumption if you don’t understand what’s taking up the majority of electricity, water, or other energy in your home. You can study your energy bills yourself or go the more effective route and have a professional energy audit done. An energy auditor will assess your average household energy use and provide you with ways you can improve your home’s efficiency and more!
Insulate Windows and Doors
Your windows and doors let out — and in — more of the outdoors than you might assume. Ensure your windows and doors are properly insulated, and if you have single-pane windows, consider replacing them for double-pane windows. These newer-style windows reduce energy loss that happens every time the temperatures creep up too high or down too low.
Find Alternative Comfort Solutions
On the hottest and coldest days of the year, the last thing you want to do is turn off your air conditioner or heater. However, that doesn’t mean you need to blast the AC at 60° — or the heater at 80° — to feel comfortable. Use strategically placed fans to cool down your house (ceiling fans can help cool off temperatures by up to 4°), bundle up when it’s cold, or invest in energy-efficient space or fan heaters that warm up the room you’re in, rather than the whole house.
Use Electricity Timers
Most people are guilty of leaving appliances or lights plugged in and running throughout the day. We’ve all done it — it’s easy to forget to unplug or switch off that printer, desktop computer, video game console, or bedroom light bulb. However, if you don’t kick the habit, you’ll see your electricity bills going up before your very eyes. To promote energy efficiency and save some money, invest in electricity timers.
While you may not be able to use one for every appliance or light in your home, a few well-placed electricity timers can go a long way. These simple devices are plugged into your wall outlets. Then, you can plug in anything with a cord to the device. By setting the timer, you can have your appliances turn off while you’re at work, or you can limit usage after a particular time. Some more technologically advanced models even connect to your phone.
Air Dry Both Dishes and Clothes
If you have a dishwasher, let your dishes air dry or use a cooler dry setting rather than using the energy-consuming heat dry setting. You can also save a significant amount on electricity bills by air-drying clothes when possible. During spring and summer, hanging a clothesline in your backyard or drying clothes on a railing on your back porch, rather than running your dryer, can save you some extra bucks, too.
Understand Your Appliances
Here are a few suggestions to put into practice when you’re using your dishwasher, laundry machines, and other household appliances:
- Use recommended manufacturer settings for your refrigerator and freezer temperatures.
- Wash your clothes using cold water when you can. This reduces hot water heater energy usage and is also better for your clothes in the long run.
- The time of day you use an appliance matters. When you run your clothes dryer or dishwasher during the day, especially between 3:00 and 6:00 PM, you’re straining your local power grid and suppressing the rest of the electronics operating in your home. Instead, use them in the later evening or wait until nighttime.
- Keep your fridge and freezer full if possible. These systems operate at maximum efficiency when you use all the space you can (although it’s also important to avoid stuffing them so full that there’s no airflow).
Upgrade Your Thermostat
Smart thermostats aren’t just convenient because you can control them anywhere from your phone. They’re also another way to create a more energy-efficient home. You can monitor energy usage, adjust settings, and set daily schedules, all from the comfort of your couch.
Install Energy-Efficient Appliances
Improve your home’s appearance AND save some cash with energy-efficient appliances. You can now get an energy-efficient model for almost any appliance you can think of, from refrigerators to toasters to dishwashers to washing machines. Don’t forget energy-efficient HVAC systems, too. A huge amount of household energy is used to power heating and cooling systems every year, so it’s a no-brainer to upgrade to a modern, energy-saving model.
Schedule Regular System Maintenance
The most cost-effective thing you can do if you install a new HVAC system (or new energy-saving appliances!) is to schedule maintenance regularly. By calling on professionals to clean out or replace filters, tune-up thermostats and temperature controls, and check the health and functionality of your system, you’re preventing future breakdowns and helping your new investment last as long as possible.
Contact RepairUSA Today!
Think green…call RepairUSA! We can install any and all smart temperature products as well as provide prompt heating and air conditioner repair in Jonesboro, AR, and surrounding communities. You owe it to your fellow earth citizens — and your wallet — to improve your energy efficiency. So don’t wait; reach out to our team today and schedule a service. We’ll speak with you soon!
