Some American families spend up to $ 400 on utilities each month. This can put a heavy strain on your budget. The good news is that there are some simple tricks you can use to save money while feeling comfortable in your home.
We have compiled this guide to show you simple ways to save electricity and energy. So let's start!
Isolate your Windows
On average, houses and apartments lose about 30% of their energy through the windows. For this reason, you should make sure that your windows are well insulated.
There are several ways to do this. For example, you can use pull stoppers and weather strips to seal any crack. You can also look into tenant-friendly window tints that reflect the heat away from your home or keep the warmth on cold days. For more information about this option, see this window tinting guide.
Keep your freezer full
The more space your freezer has, the harder it will have to work to keep it cold. For this reason, you should keep your freezer as full as possible. If you don't usually keep a lot of food in your freezer, unload everything and fill your back with ice packs or other fillers. Then repack everything as tightly as possible. This will help your freezer save energy.
Wash your clothes with cold water
Your washing machine needs to absorb additional energy each time you use hot water. If you wash your clothes with cold water, you cut out a whole step, which can save you money in the long run. You should only wash your clothes with warm water if you have a specific item that requires it. Otherwise, stay with cold water instead.
Hang your clothes dry
Clotheslines are much cheaper than running the dryer every week. If you don't have an outdoor space in your apartment, you can also hang the clothesline inside. This does not mean that you cannot operate your dryer at all. However, do it as little as possible. Try to limit the drying time to about five minutes before switching to the clothesline.
Turn down your thermostat
You should try to keep your thermostat at 75 to 78 degrees in summer and 60 to 65 degrees in winter. This helps keep your home cool or warm while using as little energy as possible.
However, you shouldn't give up your comfort. There's no point in running your air conditioner at all if you're already sweating inside. At this point, you can also keep your home a little colder to get your money out of your system.
Open and close your Windows at the right time
Always keep your windows closed when you operate your HVAC system. Otherwise, the warm or cold air flows directly outside. Your system needs to run additional time for your home to reach the desired temperature. You should keep your blinds or curtains open even in the warm summer months. This allows as much sunlight as possible into your home, which can warm up the room. Close them in winter to keep the cold air out.
Disconnect unused devices from the mains
When an electronic device is connected to the wall, it always draws in small amounts of electricity – even when it is switched off. Always disconnect computers, TVs, lamps, chargers, etc. from the mains when you are no longer using them.
Install energy efficient lights
Energy efficient light bulbs use 25% to 80% less energy than other lights. This way, you can save several hundred dollars a year. Depending on how many lights you have in your home and how often you use them, you may be able to save even more. First, buy energy-efficient light bulbs for the five lights that you use most often in your home. If you can afford more, turn off all the lights.
Switch off your shower head
Switch your shower head against a water-saving model and limit your showers to 10 minutes or less. This will significantly affect your water bill. Baths absorb much more water than showers, but that doesn't mean you can never take a relaxing bath. However, you should keep your baths for special occasions.
Do not block your ventilation slots
You may not have a lot of space in your home to experiment with different furniture arrangements. However, be careful not to block the ventilation slots on your air conditioning or heating. This prevents the cold or warm air from spreading to the rest of your home. You need to run your HVAC system longer than usual to keep your home comfortable, which increases your energy costs.
Stop rinsing your dishes
If you wash your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher, you're wasting water. While older dishwashers may not have been able to handle dishes covered with food, today's dishwashers can remove even hard soiling.
Buy some carpets
If your home does not have a carpet, you should buy carpets. This helps isolate your home and prevent energy from leaking through your floor. This is particularly important if there are other apartments below you.
Get creative with your toilet
Your toilet uses approximately 1.6 gallons of water each time you flush. While this is less than older models, it can still cause your water bill to get pretty high. Try filling a plastic water bottle with stones and placing it on the bottom of the toilet tank. This displaces the water, which means that each flush uses less water than normal.
Ways to save electricity and energy in your home
If you follow these methods to save electricity and energy in your home, you will spend less money on your utilities every month. Want more helpful tips for homeowners? Be sure to check out the rest of our blog!
