New homeowners and old homeowners alike might not know all of the tricks to saving energy in the home. Energy saving not only helps you save money, it also helps the environment, too! This blog will provide a list of ways you can be conscious and live energy efficiently.  We don’t expect you to change everything overnight, one or two steps at a time will work just fine! Starting out by following a few of our tips will create an impact and will help guide you in the right direction to becoming an energy saving connoisseur.

1. Replace your old incandescent lights and convert to LED. LED lights use up to 75% less energy and last about 25% longer.

2. Turn your water heater to a warm setting (120 degrees) as opposed to a hot setting. Water heating can result in 14%-24% of the energy consumption of your home.

3. Unplug electronics when they’re not in use. Even when turned off, they are still emitting some amounts of energy.

4. Get your ducts inspected. You could be losing up to 20% of your heated or cooled air through your duct system to the outdoors. Ensure that your ducts are insulated and sealed properly by a professional.

5. Utilize your ceiling fan. This can raise the temperature by about 4 degrees. Just make sure to turn it off when the room is not in use.

6. Use the programmable setting on your thermostat. If you don’t have one, get one installed.  Have it turned off when no one is home, and have it adjusted just in time to come home to a comfortable temperature. However, be cautious in the winter and keep the setting at 55 degrees, so that your pipes do not freeze.

7. Set your thermostat to the lowest (winter) or the highest (summer) that you can stand. A few degrees can make a noticeable impact on your heating and cooling bill. If you like your temperature at 72 degrees in the summer, try setting at 78 degrees instead.

8. Don’t place TV sets or lamps near the air conditioning thermostat. It will sense heat, thus causing the thermostat to run longer than necessary.

9. Change your furnace filter regularly. Dirt, dust and debris can end up clogging the filter which can cause your furnace to work harder or even break!

10. Along with tip #9, you’ll want to vacuum your registers and vents regularly. This is blocking your air flow to your home and raising your bills!

    Google Images

11. Avoid using a space heater. They are VERY expensive AND dangerous.

12. Use curtains to block out heat, or keep out cold air. DO NOT block vents with said curtains. Also, keep furniture and rugs away from vents as well. This prevents air flow from working properly, effectively and efficiently.

13. Invest in energy saving appliances. Sure, they might be more pricey up front, but they’ll pay off in the long run. You will soon notice a difference in your energy bill.

14. Plant trees around your home for natural insulation and shading.

    Google Images