Energy and water conservation are essential for various reasons. You’ll save money, boost property value, and protect the environment. Below are five ways to help you reduce utility bills at home.
Reduce Utility Bills: Switch to Smart Bulbs
An easy and inexpensive way of saving energy at home is by using smart bulbs. Replace regular incandescent light bulbs with these modern bulbs. Smart bulbs can be turned on or off by an app on your mobile phone. If you are away from home and remember leaving the bathroom lights on, turn them off remotely with an app.
Program smart bulbs to turn on and off at specific times of the day. Set the lights to automatically turn off at bedtime and come on again in the morning.
Shorten Your Showers
The water heater is one of the most energy-consuming appliances in the home. Save water by shortening the length of your showers. Reducing shower time by only two minutes significantly impacts your utility bills. You can also insulate the water heater to lower heat loss. If you have the budget, replace the water heater with a more efficient model.
Wash Clothes in Cold Water
Laundry is a mandatory task that most homeowners do weekly. It also consumes a lot of power, especially if you’re using hot water. Most of the energy used in washing clothes is from heating the water.
Using cold water to wash the clothes helps you use less energy and prevents the build-up of heat in your home during the hot summer months. Cold water may help prolong your clothes’ lifespan and reduce fading because there is no heat damage. If you’re worried about removing stains, pre-soak the fabric before washing.
Ceiling Fans Help Reduce Utility Bills
Regardless of the season, fans help to regulate the temperatures in your home. In the summer, set the ceiling fans to spin counter-clockwise for a cooling effect inside the house. During winter, rotate them clockwise to move the warmer air near the ceiling into the rest of the room. You’ll lower the utility bills and stay comfortable all year round.
Use Natural Sunlight
Using sunlight is one of the best ways to save energy at home. If your home has access to direct sunlight, invest in solar panels. Solar panels absorb heat energy from the sun and convert it to electricity to power your home. Purchasing the panels plus the installation fee can be expensive, but the benefits and savings exceed the money spent over time.
To save energy at home, be consistent with the changes you make. Develop habits of turning off lights and being more efficient with chores. You will see a significant difference in your monthly energy bills.
Certinspectors provides home inspections and home energy testing in the Hudson Valley of New York. Contact us to schedule our services.