Many people don’t know how easy it is to make your home more energy efficient, and Check Twice Home Inspections wants to change that. There are many ways to reduce heating, cooling, and electricity costs in your home. We can name 3 big reasons you should aim to consume less electricity: save money, reduce the effects of climate change, and increase the comfort of your home.
10 Ways To Reduce Your Utility Bill
- Find better ways to heat and cool your home: Almost half of energy usage in homes is by your heating and cooling systems. Here are some quick fixes to lower the costs and amount of energy going towards heating and cooling systems in your home.
- Install ceiling fans or set up box fans. Using fans like these can be put in place of the AC, and significantly reduce the energy coming from your AC.
- Change out your air filters every so often.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Thermostats like these can be controlled when no one is home, to better save energy produced from these systems.
- Install a tankless water heater: Demand type water heaters only heat water as needed. They don’t produce the same stand by energy loss as regular water heaters, and save energy and money as opposed to a regular water tank. Tankless water heaters heat water on command without the use of a tank.
- Replace incandescent lights: Average homes dedicate 11% of energy into lighting. Traditional incandescent lights only convert about 10% of their energy into lighting. The rest of it gets converted to heat. Other light options like LEDs and CFLs can increase light production by 50-75% and save energy.
- Seal and insulate your homes: Sealing your home can be one of the most cost and energy efficient ways to make a home more comfortable. We know here in Florida that we don’t typically need to heat our homes but sealing your home can improve comfort quality during the few chilly months. There are some spots that can typically cause leaks but can be fixed to improve the quality of your home and energy efficiency. Some of those spots are:
- Electrical receptacles/outlets
- Wall or window mounted ACs
- Attic hatches
- Baseboards
- Window frames
- Install more efficient showerheads and toilets: Some of these systems can be installed to improve water conservation in your home:
- Low flow showerheads
- Low flow toilets
- Vacuum assist toilets
- Dual flush toilets
- Use appliances and electronics responsibly.
- Computers should be turned off when not in use. Desktop computers and monitors can account for up to 3% of energy used in homes. Turning them off when they’re not in use can save energy.
- Plugged in chargers and devices should be unplugged when they are not being used. When they are plugged into the walls, they are still increasing your energy production.
- Use more energy efficient appliances and electronics.
- Install daylights instead of using electric lights.
- Sky lights
- Clerestory window
- Light tubes
- Insulate your doors and windows: Almost 1/3 of heat loss occurs from leaky windows and doors.
- Seal all windows with rope caulk, it is the easiest and cheapest fix
- If existing windows have wood damage or cracking, it is best to have them repaired or replaced
- Windows can be weather stripped with a lining that is placed between the window and the frame. For doors, apply the weather stripping around the whole perimeter to ensure a tight seal when they’re closed.
- Cook smart: A large amount of energy waste is due to unsmart cooking.
- Convection ovens are more efficient than conventional ovens
- Microwaves are even more efficient than conventional ovens
- Pressure cookers reduces cook time drastically
- While using conventional ovens, use the top rack. It gets hotter and will cook food faster
- Using pot and pan lids while cooking cooks food faster
- Change how you do laundry.
- Do large loads of laundry to save water
- Avoid using high temp settings
- Clean the lint catcher between loads. It is a fire hazard, and reduces dry time
- Spin dry or wring out clothes before drying
Taking these measures can significantly lower your energy consumption and help reduce your electric bill, all while benefiting the environment. Some of these tips may seem like a no brainer but watch while the usage drops your savings increase. Check with your local utility provider to see if they offer an energy audit and rebates for energy-saving appliances, insulation installation, and more.
For more information or if you would like to schedule a home inspection and speak to a trusted home inspector, call Check Twice Home Inspections.