You’ve done it! You’ve made it through the process of building your first house and now it’s time to enjoy everything your home has to offer. If you’re not careful though, energy costs can rack up your bill causing you to spend more than you truly have to. Luckily for all homeowners, there are plenty of options available to cut back energy costs without cutting back on comfort. By implementing the tips on our guide, you’ll be on your way to reducing energy costs in your home and reducing stress on your wallet.
Wash Clothes In Cold Water
When laundry day comes, make sure your settings indicate that your clothes will be washed in cold water. Using cold water for your laundry can reduce energy costs since about 90 percent of energy used by a washing machine is used to heat up water.
Use Fans Over Air Conditioning
Choosing to cool off by using fans can help to reduce air conditioning costs in warmer months. To further help keep your home cool, make sure all doors, windows and window shades are kept closed to reduce the amount of heat entering your home.
Turn Off Ovens Before The End Of Cooking Time
Here’s a good home hack: When cooking, turn your oven off before the scheduled end cooking time. Since ovens retain heat, your food will continue to cook without using the extra electricity to power the oven. Turn the oven off 10 to 15 minutes before the cooking time runs out for maximum effect.
Opt For Your Microwave Over Your Stove
Use a microwave over an oven if the food allows for it. By choosing your microwave first, you can save significant amounts of energy, as microwaves use two-thirds less energy than ovens do.
Use Natural Light When Possible
Instead of using electricity to power artificial light, take advantage of naturally-occurring light from the sun during the day. By opening your shades and allowing sunlight into your house, you can avoid having to use lamps and lights, which will allow for savings the next time you get your energy bill.
Turn Off Lights When Not In Use
This one might seem simple, but it’s easier said than done. There are so many times where we often leave lights on when we leave a room. Making turning lights off a regular habit is one of the best things you can do for your home, as it will improve the lifespan of your light bulbs, and help you save on energy costs.
Don’t Leave Devices Plugged In Overnight
By the end of the day, our phones and laptops often need charging due to routine use. It’s commonplace to plug them in before we go to bed and unplug them once we wake up. Unfortunately, doing this can be bad for your electric bill, as phone and computers usually charge up after a few hours. To reduce unnecessary energy use, plug your phone or computer in a few hours before bed so it will be done charging by the time you are ready to power down for the day.
Keep Appliances Away From Thermostats
Placing portable heaters, TVs and lamps near a thermostat can cause your air conditioning to run longer than needed since the thermostat senses heat from the appliances. Keep these appliances located away from the thermostat to reduce unneeded energy production and costs.
Use Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans can provide a similar level of comfort and cooling as air conditioning while allowing you to keep the thermostat 4℉ higher than if you were using A/C. This will help to lower your energy bill. Just remember to turn off the fan when you exit the room, as fans don’t cool the rooms, just the people inside them.
Reduce Water Heater Temperatures
Most times, we don’t need excessively hot water in our homes. It does more to scald our hands or skin than it does to serve a regular need for homeowners. You can turn down the temperature of your water heater to a warm setting—120℉ is a good starting point—to reduce unnecessary costs created from water heating.
These are just a few ways to reduce energy costs in your new home. In the coming posts, we will likely explore more ways that homeowners can implement energy efficient habits and techniques that reduce energy costs significantly in the long run. Stay tuned for more ways you can outfit your home to combat these unneeded energy costs.