Some homeowners dread opening up their monthly energy bill. Energy costs seem to continually rise and can take away a significant portion of your income. The tips below can help you evaluate your current household energy usage and help you save big on your electricity bill.
Keep Vents Clear and Clean
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Many homes are carefully designed with a sufficient number of vents to keep the residence at a comfortable temperature. If dust and other debris close or block vents, air cannot get through as easily. This blockage often results in your decision to turn up the heat or air conditioning to achieve a more comfortable environment.
Making sure that all of the vents in a room are open and clean can improve energy efficiency and give your home a cleaner indoor air quality.
Get a Home Energy Audit
Many homeowners are aware of overused energy usage, such as leaving lights on in rooms that are not currently occupied. But many additional household events could result in increased energy bills. Many of these causes are overlooked.
Getting a professional energy audit or conducting your own energy audit can give you a better picture of your household’s specific energy uses. You can use this knowledge to make improvements to your home, such as cleaning your home’s ductwork, and to reduce your monthly energy costs.
Decrease the Water Heater Temperature
You use a significant portion of your monthly energy costs to heat your home’s water. In fact, approximately 13 percent of your home’s electricity gets used on the water heater.
While the default temperature of the water heater is usually set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends that tank-based water heaters be set at 120 degrees. You can adjust the temperature and find a setting that works for you and cuts your monthly energy costs.
Customize Your Thermostat Settings
Your home should be a place of relaxation and comfort. You want it to be a comfortable temperature and to provide you with optimal heat on a cold day and cool air on a hot day. However, many homeowners set their thermostats at their preferred temperature even when they are not home.
Heating or cooling the home when you are away from the house for many hours or away on vacation wastes both energy and money. Investing in a programmable thermostat can help you create a schedule that keeps the house at a comfortable temperature when you are home and reduces it for cost savings when you are not.
Install a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
Whole-home dehumidifiers optimize your heating and cooling efficiency. The dehumidifier changes the moisture in the air to create a more comfortable temperature. Installing a whole-home dehumidifier can reduce household moisture levels with a single unit process while also boosting the efficiency of your home’s HVAC system. You can effectively cut your home’s energy use and, ultimately, your monthly energy costs.
A typical home is made up of different energy-using components. Evaluating and improving upon these energy users can significantly cut your monthly electricity costs.