Saving Tips To Reduce Your Energy Costs
It seems that you can never escape those high energy bills, either in summer, winter, or any of the in-between seasons. If you’re not paying extra costs for air conditioning, you’re paying for the cost of heating your home, so there’s just no getting around those utility bills. However, there are some things you can do which will help you save money and reduce those utility bills, even while having to condition air for interior comfort. Anyone who is interested in controlling costs for the household budget should seriously consider energy efficiency, and some of the ways you can help achieve the most energy-efficient household.
Windows replacement
One of the biggest areas of energy loss in any home will be old windows which are outdated, and which may have cracks or gaps around the frames. The US Department of Energy tells us that as much as 40% of heating and cooling costs are directly attributable to the energy-efficient nature of your windows. This should tell you that a considerable amount of money can be saved by having air-tight modern replacement windows installed, so as to take advantage of the newest innovations in energy-efficiency. There are double-pane options you can choose from, which provide superior insulation against exterior weather conditions, and which also prevent conditioned air from escaping to the outside. Keep in mind that windows replacement is one of your best options for achieving energy-efficiency and a savings on utility bills.
Door replacement
Going hand-in-hand with windows replacement is the option of replacing the doors of your household. While there’s no getting around the constant opening and closing necessary to gain access to the home, it’s also true that some doors are draftier than others, or have poor insulation. This can lead to a huge waste of conditioned air, and can force your HVAC equipment to work harder in order to heat or cool your home. A modern energy-efficient door can be constructed with a polyurethane foam core, which would provide five times more energy-efficiency than a typical wooden door might.
Upgrade your appliances
Your old appliances may still be operating fairly well, but that doesn’t mean they’re the most efficient machines for your energy-efficient home. Kitchen appliances are major consumers of energy throughout the household, and their usage typically increases during the cold months and the warm months each year. You can save a great deal of money on your energy bills by replacing old, outdated appliances with more modern versions of them. Most modern appliances are equipped with a number of energy-efficient features, which have the effect of reducing the amount of energy necessary to operate them.
Monitor your energy usage
After you’ve done everything possible to upgrade devices in your home and to provide maximum insulation, you should turn your attention to how your family uses energy in the household. You should encourage family members to unplug electronics and appliances when they’re not in use, and this includes lighting, coffee makers, toasters, and stereo equipment. If you find it hard to get everyone on board with energy-efficient practices, see if you can automate the shut off capability of your electronics and other devices. Every little bit that your family contributes to energy efficiency, will show up on the bottom line when you get your monthly utility bill.
