Would you be interested in receiving a $500 rebate on your electricity bill this year? Of course you would! You can give yourself a rebate by lowering the electricity consumption of your house. If you follow these easy money saving tips, you can end up saving around $500 each year. Here are ten simple ways for you to save money while conserving energy around your home.
1. Use Fans for Cooling
In the summer, try to use a ceiling fan or a table fan to cool your home, instead of the A/C. If you set the ceiling fan to spin counter-clockwise in summer, the fan will pull the hot air up and away from your living space.
2. Choose Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. These use 1/4th of the energy of incandescent bulbs and can last for many more years. You can also install LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), which are extremely energy-efficient.
3. Avoid Phantom Loads
A phantom load refers to the electricity that an appliance will draw when you have not turned it on. The Department of Energy says that phantom loads can be responsible for up to 75% of an average home’s electricity usage. The best way to avoid phantom loads is to keep your appliances unplugged when they are not in use.
4. Get Energy Efficient Appliances
Before you buy a new appliance, check for the Energy Star label. Appliances that have this label may use up to 50% less energy than appliances without the label. Note that Energy Star designated appliances may cost more, but the energy savings will help you recover the additional investment soon.
5. Seal Window Leaks
When you are checking the insulation on your windows, look for small gaps and cracks. According to Energy Star, you can save up to 10% on your energy bills by improving the insulation in your home, which includes blocking small leaks around windows. If you think you will not be able to detect the leaks, contact Tenco today for a FREE Energy Audit.
6. Save Energy with Energy Efficient Replacement Windows
Even after you have sealed the spaces around your windows, you still have to worry about the window glass itself. Thin window glass is a poor insulator. If you have the budget, we would recommend that you have replacement vinyl windows installed. New energy-efficient vinyl windows can reduce your energy bills by as much as 15%. You also have the option of retrofitting new replacement windows into your home. Retrofitting windows is the process of installing new windows on top of the original window frame, which means you may not have to redo the stucco or wood around the window. If replacing the windows is not an option, consider installing a Low-Emittance (Low-E) reflective film. Adding Low-E insulating window film to your windows may help to dramatically reduce your heating bills in the winter and lower the cost to keep your house cool in the summer.
7. Dealing with the Attic
The attic is another route through which heat is gained or lost. The Department of Energy says that most attics in U.S. homes are not insulated properly. Reflective attic insulation and blown-in attic insulation are two useful methods that can lower your energy bills by 15 to 25%.
8. Conserve Water for Energy Efficiency
You can bring down your water bills by using water judiciously. When your water consumption comes down, so will your gas bills and/or electricity bill (if you own an electric water heater). The Department of Energy estimates that water heating is responsible for the third highest consumption of gas/electricity in a house.
9. Plants Shrubs and Trees
Shade trees planted around your home can protect it against the sun, thus lowering your cooling bills. According to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, the right placement of trees around your home can help reduce your electricity bills in summer by up to 40%.
10. Keep Your Doors Closed
When you open the door of your home make sure that you close it quickly. And at night, pull the curtains over your windows. This will help keep the cool air in the house during the summer and warm air inside in the winter. You should also avoid leaving the refrigerator door open for an extended amount of time to avoid the refrigerator from having to work harder in order to keep the refrigerator’s temperature down.
All these tips will go a long way in conserving energy and saving you money each year.
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Call Tenco Today at (866) 272-1451 and Mention this Website Offer!
Tenco Construction has been serving the Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange County and Los Angeles areas for years. They can help you reduce your home energy use which will lead to lower utility bills. And that means money in your pocket! If you want to learn more about how you can make your home more energy efficient, please contact Tenco Construction today at (866) 272-1451.