Most homeowners are interested in learning ways to cut down on energy use at home. It’s not only great for the environment, it’s also pretty good for your bank account as well. Below, we’ve listed several great tips that will help you save energy in every single room in your house! Read on for some great ways to save.
Save Energy in the Bathroom:
- Take a 5-minute shower instead of a bath to conserve on water. You’ll not only cut down on water waste, but you’ll also save energy by not heating additional water, which accounts for about 1/4 of a home’s used energy.
- Speaking of heating water, use cold water over hot whenever possible—such as when brushing your teeth, shaving, or cleaning out your sink/bathtub.
- Install low-flow shower heads to save on water waste. These types of shower heads are inexpensive and can reduce water waste by up to 7 gallons per minute.
- Fix leaky faucets or toilets that continuously run. A toilet tank bank is a handy addition that helps reduce water usage with every flush by displacing water in your tank.
- Don’t leave hair dryers or other styling tools plugged in while not in use; this will conserve energy and prevent any dangerous accidents from occurring.
- Turn off all lights when you leave the bathroom, and only use your extractor fan when needed.
Save Energy in the Kitchen:
- Check your refrigerator’s temperature and make sure it is set to about 38ºF; your freezer should maintain a temperature of about 5ºF. This is the most energy efficient setting to run this appliance at that will ensure that all your food stays fresh (or frozen). Additionally, make sure that your refrigerator seal is tight. To test your seal, place a sheet of paper in the doorway and then close it; if it slides out easily, you’ll need to replace your seal.
- Just like mom always said, don’t stand around with the refrigerator door hanging open while you decide what to eat. Likewise, limit the amount of times you open the refrigerator to conserve energy.
- When cooking on the stovetop, be sure to use the proper size pot for the burner. A pot that is too small for the burner wastes energy because the burner is not heating any surface directly.
- When using the oven, limit the amount of times you open the oven door to prevent wasting heat. Each time you open the oven door, it will need to produce more heat to come back up to the set temperature and will reduce your oven’s efficiency. Also, there’s no need to preheat your oven unless you are baking. When reheating or cooking frozen foods, skip the pre-heat and save energy.
- Always make sure that your dishwasher is full before running it. The dishwasher uses the same amount of energy no matter how big of a load, so save on water and the energy it takes to heat the water and dry the dishes.
Save Energy in the Bedroom, Living Room and Other Areas of Your Home:
- Seal all your windows and doors with caulk and/or weather stripping to make sure that your precious warm or cooled air from your HVAC system isn’t escaping. This will make it so that your HVAC system doesn’t have to work so hard, which means it will be more efficient and save on energy costs.
- Switch to CFL light bulbs. These energy efficient bulbs not only last much longer than incandescent light bulbs, but they use much less energy; incandescent bulbs use most of the energy they draw to create heat, not light.
- Unplug all your electronics when not in use. Even electronics that are turned “off” still draw energy when they are left plugged in.
- Adjust your thermostat a few degrees “less comfortable” than you’re used to. In the summer-time, raise the temperature a few degrees and in the winter time, lower it. It won’t take long for your body to adjust (and probably prefer) the temperature change indoors and you’ll just a quickly notice a reduction in your home energy bill!
For More Great Energy Saving Tips
Are you looking for more ways to save energy and money? Be sure to check back often to our blog or follow us on Facebook to keep up with the latest updates!