Do you cringe when you receive your energy statement in the mail? No one likes to get an expensive bill. Here are four steps you can take to lower your energy consumption at home.
1. Check Your Windows
Double-paned windows use a metal spacer between the two layers of glass. This metal piece is prone to heating and contributes to added temperatures in a room. Consider having warm edge technology windows Burlington County NJ installed instead. These use high-performance spacers and edges that reduce thermal conductivity which decreases the amount of heat added to the room.
2. Use a Smart Thermostat
Running the air conditioning all day keeps your house nice and cool, but it costs a lot of money. There is no need to run the heating or cooling systems while you aren’t at home. Buy a smart thermostat so you can set a schedule to maintain the temperatures in your home while you are there, but shut off when you are at work or school. Many newer options allow you to control them while you are away from home so that you can adjust the schedule as necessary. Cutting back on unnecessary heating and cooling makes a significant impact on your expenses.
3. Insulate the Hot Water Heater
Besides purchasing an energy efficient water heater, there are a few things you can do to decrease the cost of hot water. Insulate the pipes that run from the heater to the wall to prevent loss of heat during transport. It’s also a good idea to insulate the tank too. As water sits in the tank, it cools depending on the air temperature outside the tank. The tank has to keep running more often to keep the internal water temp in your ideal range on cold days. Another thing you can do is check the temperature setting on the tank. If the temp is set too high, you can decrease it to prevent the tank from running as often.
4. Install Smart Power Strips
Even when an electrical device is off, it still consumes energy when plugged into the wall. Instead, connect these devices with smart power strips that can be programmed to shut off at certain times or during a period of inactivity. These cut down on wasted energy and ensures you are only paying for the electricity you use.
Changing a few things in your home can significantly decrease the amount of energy used daily. Not only does this save money, but it prevents wasting energy when demand is high.
