Need help saving money, lowering your monthly energy bill and positively impacting the world with an energy-efficient lifestyle? Saving energy requires you to recognize how you use energy in your everyday life and determine the changes you need to make to increase your energy efficiency without greatly impacting your quality of life.
You may not even know everything that contributes to your energy use, as many appliances are able to drain electricity in a sneaky fashion. Fortunately, there are several ways to realize big energy savings without putting forth much effort. Here you’ll find eight simple but effective tips for saving energy.
8 ENERGY SAVING TIPS TO TRY AT HOME
1. Avoid Vampire Energy
Households are filled with electronic devices that are used in everyday life without a second thought. And even if you are mindful about powering them down, these devices could still be draining electricity if they remain plugged in. This is known as vampire energy, which can account for as much as 20% of the energy bill for your home. This can translate to several hundred dollars per household on an annual basis and can make for major savings when it is recognized and addressed.
Remedying the situation is as simple as unplugging your electronics. Use power strips for multiple devices so you can unplug all your electronics by just removing one chord. Among those devices to unplug are televisions, printers, and video game consoles. For devices that are left to charge like cell phones, remove their chords when they are fully powered to avoid unnecessary energy use.
2. Check Water Heater Settings
One of the most significant sources of energy use in homes is the water heater, as it is responsible for supplying heat to showers, sinks, dishwashers, and laundry machines. In fulfilling its purpose, the water heater does use energy and that comes at a cost. This is particularly true of tanked water heaters, which keep a store of warm water for quick distribution but require energy to do so.
Most heaters are preset to 140 degrees Fahrenheit which allows them to heat to scalding temperatures and use more energy in the process. To begin saving, go to your tanked heater and drop the temperature down within the 110-120 degrees Fahrenheit range. This will allow your appliance to deliver water at desirably hot temperatures but cost you less in the long run.
3. Change Bulbs
An energy saving tip that only requires a one-time switch is exchanging the bulbs in your home for energy efficient ones. As our primary source of light, bulbs are used every day throughout rooms and for extended periods of time. Finding ways to minimize their energy consumption offers easy savings with every flip of a switch.
The most efficient bulbs available are CFLs and LEDs as they outlast traditional incandescents several times over and consume less energy. For incandescent bulbs, nearly 80% of the energy they are supplied with is released as heat energy instead of being converted into light energy. The opposite is true of CFLs and LEDs, which turn most of the energy they are supplied with into light. These bulbs cost more up-front but will ultimately pay for themselves while saving you energy.
4. Let In Natural Light
Relying on the light that naturally enters your home is a simple way to save, and it comes with several additional benefits. First, it keeps us from having to switch on our lights to brighten up our spaces. Secondly, letting in the sunlight also brings in warmth, which helps to raise the temperature of the home with energy-efficient heating.
During winter months, you can keep from turning on the heat by simply having the sun supplement it. In the warmer months, however, the extra sunlight may require you to crank up your air conditioning. The best way to manage this is to use window dressings like blinds and shades that block out most of the sun’s heat and light, thus taking the stress off of your air conditioner.
5. Optimize Laundry Day
In doing chores like laundry, you’ll need to expend energy in order to give your things a thorough clean. And while it is possible to save by simply utilizing a hand wash instead of a machine wash, there are still ways to cut down on the energy used while making things a bit easier on yourself.
To begin, wash your clothes with cold water instead of warm – using hot water requires more energy use because it brings your water heater into the mix. For additional energy savings, be mindful of the volume of garments that are put in to clean. Fill the machine until it’s two-thirds full to optimize energy use, reduce the strain on your washer, and allow the washer to clean more effectively.
6. Maximize Your Dishwasher
Another cleaning machine to know a few things about is the dishwasher. Similar to your washing machine, you don’t want to pack your dishwasher too full – load it to the point that it can still function optimally. If you have just a few things to clean, either store them in the appliance until you have enough to justify a full load, or hand wash them. Should you choose the latter, fill up the kitchen sink with a few inches of water so that you can reuse it as you clean instead of wasting water by letting it run. You can even choose to skip the drying cycle in the name of energy efficiency and allow your dishes to air dry. It may take a bit longer, but it’s a small price to pay for the energy savings.
7. Monitor Oven Usage
Many of us depend on our ovens for food preparation. Unfortunately, it does require a fair amount of energy and time. This cost only rises as the heat generated from the oven escapes out into our homes, raising the temperature and forcing the air conditioner to use more energy to combat the warmth.
A much simpler and energy efficient way to cook is to rely on the microwave which not only uses a considerably smaller amount of energy, but also cooks food faster. If you must use the oven, maximize the space used within it as you cook. You can even consider using the oven more during the cooler months to warm the house instead of turning on the heat.
Keep in mind that each time you open the oven door to check on your food, you can cause a temperature drop of up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit, which disrupts the cooking cycle and forces the oven to use more energy to restore the temperature. So no peeking!
8. Get Out of The House
Your home is the center of your life and also the place you consume the most energy. Because of this, you’re likely using energy in ways you don’t even realize. The expense of this consumption can be diminished by leaving your home occasionally to give it a break from continuous energy usage.
Getting a little physical activity in the form of walking, biking, or participating in sports are good options for cutting your energy usage. If you want to just find a place to go and relax, the library can help you to cut your consumption too. Renting books from the library is always free, and you can even use the library computers and forgo surfing the web in your own home.
Save Even More by Switching to Payless Power
Even if you apply all these energy-saving tips, they’re only effective if you’re supported by an energy company that’s as devoted to savings as you are.
That’s why Payless Power’s mission is simple, affordable electricity for all. Our emphasis on innovation and integrity make us a top choice for Texans seeking an energy provider, and our affordable rates and no-credit check plans help us to help you save on your energy bills.
Ready to start saving? Find the plan that’s best for you and see the Payless Power difference.
