Saving money on electricity and home heating costs is as simple as changing a few habits and investing in affordable ways to make your home more energy efficient. By making these simple changes, you can reduce your energy consumption immediately, resulting in lower utility bills without sacrificing comfort or convenience.
To display just how easy it is to reduce your energy usage, here are five simple, no-cost ways to save money on utilities every month:
1. Shorten your showers. Cutting just a few minutes off of your shower will reduce your demand for hot water, leading to a reduction in energy use.
2. Turn the lights off. Turning the lights off when you leave a room is a simple change in habits that saves money on electricity every day.
3. Shut down your computer when not in use. Many people leave their computers, printers, fax machines and other home office equipment on even when they are away from home or sleeping. Turn off office electronics to save money on electricity.
4. Turn down your thermostat. Most people can live comfortably with their thermostat regularly set at about 68 degrees, but you can save even more by lowering it five to 10 degrees when your family is sleeping at night or away from the house during the day. If you leave home for more than one day, consider lowering it to about 55 degrees while you are away.
5. Opt for cheaper energy services from Plymouth Energy. Switching to Plymouth Energy requires no installation fees, no enrollment fees and no costs to terminate your current service. Committed to keeping prices competitive – if not the lowest available – this energy provider can help you save on utilities every month.
If you have just a little money available to spend towards making your home more energy efficient, you can increase your savings even more with these simple, inexpensive options:
1. Purchase insulated window coverings. Affordable thermal curtains help you save money throughout the year by reducing heat loss through windows in winter and blocking heat coming through the windows during summer.
2. Beautify your yard with trees. Planting trees to shade west- and east-facing windows can help keep your home warmer in winter and cooler in summer, reducing heating and cooling costs. You can also block colder winter winds by creating a windbreak with evergreen trees on the north side of your home.
3. Install insulating window film to lower heating and cooling costs. Using a clear insulating film on your windows is particularly helpful in reducing energy use in homes with single-pane windows, but can make double-pane windows even more effective against heat transfer as well.
4. Find drafts and fix them. Older homes are known for being drafty, but even new construction may have drafts that let in the cold and allow heat to seep out. Find drafts in your home and fix them with simple solutions, such as weather stripping for exterior doors, foam sealant between window jambs and wall framing, and foam gaskets for drafty electrical outlets.
5. Use power strips throughout your home. Many electronics, such as computers and televisions continue to draw power even when turned off. You can reduce this idle energy use by unplugging electronics when not in use; however, it is much easier to plug multiple electronics into a power strip, which can be simply turned off when the items are not in use.
Reducing your monthly utility bills by saving money on electricity and home heating costs is easy and affordable when you follow these no-cost and low-cost tips for reducing energy consumption and choosing the right energy provider to maximize your savings.
Thomas Stone is a writer for JW Surety Bonds, a bond agency offering hassle-free surety bonds.
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