Utility bills always seem to get higher and higher—when you’re trying to save money they can become a real nightmare, but even more importantly it inhibits your ability to go green. It’s difficult sometimes to figure out where you can reduce your impact on the environment. Luckily, there are ways around the problem.
- Change your laundry habits: Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need super hot water to wash your clothes efficiently. Quick and Dirty Tips recommends using shorter wash cycles with colder water to save energy. It’s just as effective, and if you want to earn some energy saving bonus points, hang your laundry out to dry afterwards rather than using a dryer.
- Check on your refrigerator: Your refrigerator runs constantly, so it uses up a lot of energy. To keep it running efficiently, pull it away from the wall periodically and make sure the coils, vents and motor are free of dust. When you put it back, make sure there’s room between it and the wall to help air circulate.
- Seal up air leaks: There are probably tiny cracks around your windows and doors that are costing you a fortune in heating bills. This Old House says that sealing them up with just $30 worth of materials can save you up to $170 a year.
- Shower rather than bathe: Baths are luxurious and relaxing, but they use up an awful lot of hot water. Switching to a short shower in the morning means that you’re saving water, as well as shaving time off your morning routine. What’s not to love?
- Change out your light bulbs: Traditional light bulbs use up to four times the energy of energy saving CFL bulbs. The CFLs cost a little more, but they’ll save you lot more in your electric bills in the long run.
- Turn your electronics off: It seems obvious but often electronics are left on without people realising it, thanks to most appliances now having some form of ‘stand-by’ mode. Revolusun recommends not only turning your appliances off, but unplugging them completely once you’re done using them. You’ll be surprised at how much electricity they use, even when you’re not using them.
- Be mindful about how you use your A/C: If you’re not at home, what’s the point of leaving your A/C running? Turn it down or even better, switch it off when you leave the house. Also, if you have a programmable thermostat, make sure you use it! Controlling the temperature only when you’re home to feel the benefit will make a huge difference to your bills.
As you can see, you don’t need a lot of know how or specialist tools to reduce your home’s energy consumption. All you need is to make some small changes, some of which you won’t even notice, and you’ll be making huge savings on your bills.
Paul David Pope 