1. Unplug appliances when you are finished using them.
There are so many appliances we leave plugged in that still use electricity. One way to make this easier is to attach things like the DVD player and TV to a surge protector with an on/off switch.
That way you can shut it off every night before you go to bed or after you are done using it. This helps because you aren’t continuing to use energy.
2. Turn your refrigerator on a lower setting.
Most of the time, our refrigerators and freezers are working overtime when they don’t need to. You can turn the settings down and the appliance will still do what it needs to, just more efficiently.
If you are concerned with them not working at a lower temperature, you can buy a thermometer to check.
3. Use a programmable thermostat.
By using a programmable thermostat, you can save about $70 a year. The temperature isn’t constantly being changed and having to work extra to keep up with higher then lower temperatures.
4. Wash clothes in cold water.
Washing clothes in cold water saves on energy because you aren’t having to run the hot water heater as much.
5. Use energy efficient appliances.
Energy efficient appliances are one of the best ways to save on energy because they do the job for you.
The big appliances are the things that are going to take the most energy and by buying the energy efficient ones, you will be saving money in the long run.
Such appliances include fridges, dishwashers, tankless water heaters, washing machines, dryer, and air conditioners.
6. Low flow faucets
Not as much water is being pushed through which means there is also less energy that is being used by the hot water heater and the well.
Your well will run whenever you use water, so the less you can run your water, the more efficient your home will be.
7. Properly insulate and seal air leaks.
A properly insulated house will automatically be more energy efficient because you won’t have to run the furnace or the air conditioner as much.
8. Turn water temperature down to 130 degrees.
This will save on energy because the hot water heater will be working less. It won’t have to heat the water as much.
9. Clean filters regularly.
A dirty filter can restrict air flow and cause the furnace to run more and for longer periods of time. This will save you 15% on your energy bill over the year.
10. Use shades in the summer.
Shades can help keep the cool air inside longer. Therefore, the air conditioner will be running much less.
11. Change to energy efficient lights.
Energy efficient lights can actually save you much more than you think! Most people don’t think it’s worth the switch. You can save about 10-15% of your energy usage or about $130.00 over the course of a year.
12. Run the AC at 78 instead of 72
A ceiling fan will allow you to raise the air conditioning up 4 degrees without losing the coolness of the air. The air conditioner will run less which means using less energy.
13. Trees and shrubs around the house.
Trees and shrubs can be beneficial because they act as more insulation. The more insulation, the more efficient the house is to heat and to keep cool.
14. Placing TVs and lamps furthest from the Air Conditioner.
Make sure you are not placing anything that runs at a warm temperature by the air conditioning unit. The heat coming off the appliance will make the air conditioner run longer because it will be trying to keep up.
15. Seal the windows in the winter.
Your windows could be newer and this will still save you on your energy costs. The furnace will run much less with these in the home.
16. Limit the use of space heaters.
Space heaters can use a lot of energy. It would be more beneficial to buy the energy efficient heaters, but you will still want to limit their usage. Much energy is being used to heat a small space, so it’s easy to get carried away while using them.
17. Unplug small cords
Phone chargers and laptop chargers can still use energy when they are plugged in.
18. Storm doors and Storm windows.
These can help from the outside by blocking any unnecessary heat loss. Also, keeping large gusts of wind from finding their way into the house.
19. Replace any desktops with laptops
Desktops use more energy than a laptop does. A laptop only has one power source and can still be used when unplugged. Whereas a desktop is using energy with having the screen plugged in and also the CPU.
20. Perform an energy audit
You can hire someone to come in and let you know what kind of energy you are using and what you can do to get the cost to decrease.
