As the winter season draws nearer, homeowners often rekindle their heating units to ensure their residences remain warm and their families stay healthy and comfortable. That said, heat can be an expensive utility leaving bill payers wondering how they can reduce the sometimes prohibitive associated costs.

Five Ways To Reduce Heating Expenses

Fortunately, individuals might lessen the vital utility’s punch in the proverbial purse through efforts like:

Insulating

One major heat-related, money-saving method is ensuring the residence in question is adequately insulated. Proper insulation provides added protection against harsh winter elements like frigid temperatures, frozen precipitation, and whipping winds.

Should these weather phenomena penetrate aging windows, foundational cracks, and other appreciable crevices or openings, a home will take in increased concentrations of cool air, which forces said property’s heating unit to work longer and harder to maintain safe and comfortable indoor temperatures.

Keeping The Thermostat Down

Efficiency professionals strongly recommend homeowners keep thermostats turned down during warmer times or occasions residents will be away. Said experts maintain that keeping temperature-monitoring devices at higher temperatures allows heating systems to operate far more often than needed. The end result could be exorbitant bills.

During the daytime hours or when a home is unoccupied, a setting of 68 degrees is more than sufficient. However, when residents are present or during evening hours, settings could be safely and efficiently reduced to 60 degrees.

Exploring Possible Budget Billing Options

Some utility companies offer customers the opportunity to enroll in budget billing. This involves the establishment in question estimating the customer’s overall utility costs over time and permitting them to pay what those estimated expenses average out to. This benefit will not reduce energy usage per se. However, paying one consistent charge saves homeowners from getting socked with large bills when usage is high.

Investing In A Humidifier

Energy-efficiency experts recommend investing in humidifiers. During the winter months, air often becomes drier. Unfortunately, drier air tends to be cooler.

Humidifiers add significant moisture quantities to indoor air. As this moisture permeates the surrounding air, it feels warmer. Warmer air typically equates to elevated interior temperatures and less reliance on heating units. Systems remaining idle for longer periods burn less fuel or electricity resulting in lower utility costs.

Servicing Heating System

Arguably, the biggest money-saving technique a homeowner can perform is to schedule routine heating system servicing and furnace repair. One should never wait until a problem arises. Older but functioning systems often run less efficiently and simple tune-ups or upgrades might render the unit in question more energy-efficient over time.…

With summer at the tip of your nose and the temperature rising, so will your electricity bill. However, there are various ways you can save on electricity this summer.

Whether you’re renting an apartment or own your home, these 8 tips below will ensure you don’t burn too much energy.

• Utilizing Ceiling or Other Circulating Fans

Fans can make you feel at least 7 degrees cooler because of their wind effect. So, while a fan doesn’t cool a room, it does make it more comfortable to be in. However, you should never forget to turn off the fan when it’s not in use. Otherwise, it will defeat the purpose of saving on electricity.

• Running Your AC Economically

To save on energy costs, you should run your AC economically. To do this, you should keep the temperature of your AC close to the temperature outside. For example, the recommended temperature in the summer is 78 degrees.

You can also raise your thermostat whenever you’re not at home to save on electricity.

• Install a Smart Thermostat

One way to save on energy costs when using an air conditioner is to use a smart thermostat. You can use your smartphone to gain access to the thermostat, which can change the temperature in your house according to the time you’re there.

• Install Solar Screens

You can cool your home using solar screens, otherwise called sunshade screens on windows facing the sun. These screens look similar to insect mesh which you typically install on the outside of the windows.

You should check around at different hardware stores to ensure you find the one specifically for your windows before choosing one. In addition, solar screens have varying densities, so you should check before buying.

• Effectively Sealing Your Home

Eliminating all drafts in your home will help save energy costs significantly in the winter and summer months. Weatherstripping and caulking your doors and windows can keep the air indoors from escaping. It can also keep out the air from outside from entering your home.

• Scheduling AC Maintenance

You wouldn’t go on a road trip without checking the engine oil in your car. Just the same, you should schedule a maintenance check-up for your air conditioner with an air conditioning repair specialist. 

The best time to do this is in spring so that your AC won’t break down in the summer.

• Change Your Indoor Air Filters

A dirty air filter will make it challenging to push your AC. However, if you clean or replace your filter every 3 to 6 months, this will keep your energy cost low.

• Plant Trees for Shade

Planting a tree for shade can have a dramatic impact on your energy efficiency. It would help if you planted trees on the east and west side of your home. Doing this will allow you to lower your energy cost in the future.

Conclusion

It is always best to find different means of saving on your energy bills. However, using these cooling tips mentioned above can save you money now and in the future.

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It is normal for your energy bills to go up over time. However, you may be paying a lot more than you have to. There are cleaning tips that can help you make your home a lot more energy-efficient.

Clean the Washing Machine

A dirty washing machine will not clean your clothes as efficiently. It can also use a lot more energy. That is why it is important for you to clean your washing machine on a regular basis. You will need to unplug your washing machine and clean the inside and outside of it. You can use white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide to clean out the washing machine.

Dust Your Home

You probably dust your windows, shelves, and doors on a regular basis. However, electronics may be something that you are neglecting. If your electronics are filled with dust, then they will use a lot more energy.

Keep Carpets and Floors Clean

Dirt and pet hair on carpeting and floors can wreak havoc on your ventilation systems, making them run less efficiently. To keep debris out of vents, regularly sweep and vacuum. Regular steam cleaning will also minimize particles getting into the air.

Seal the Air Ducts

The heated or cooled air may be escaping your home. That is why it is important for you to seal the air ducts. If you seal the air ducts, then you can improve energy efficiency by up to 30 percent. Sealing the air ducts also helps take the strain off of your HVAC system.

Clean the Refrigerator Coils

Your refrigerator may be using more energy than anything else in your home. In order to ensure that your refrigerator is not using more energy than it should, you will need to clean the refrigerator coils. Cleaning the refrigerator coils will also prevent the cold air from leaving the refrigerator. This will help your food stay fresh a lot longer.

Have Your HVAC System Cleaned

You need to have your HVAC system cleaned by a professional. This will ensure that your HVAC is working properly. It will also ensure that your system does not use any more energy than it has to. Cleaning the HVAC system can increase energy efficiency by up to 15 percent.

Clean Your Sliding Door

A sliding door is a place that is often neglected in your home. However, it can accumulate a lot of dirt if you are not careful about cleaning it. The dirt and grime can make it harder to completely close your door. This can cause the air to escape. That is why your sliding door needs to be cleaned at least once every six months.

Install Window Shades

Window shades can help block out the sun. This will help keep the sun from overheating your home. It will also prevent the sun from damaging your furniture…

Today, the market is flooded with energy-saving lighting ideas and products. The number of ways to “go green” has increased dramatically in recent years as society learns to adapt to the effects of climate change. The need for efficient light management has become essential. Energy Star appliances are now being required in every home as part of the Home Energy Savings Act.

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to improve your home’s efficiency is with energy-saving lighting options. In the past, standard incandescent lights were used for all household lighting. However, recent advances in technology have made LED (light-emitting diode) lights much more efficient than incandescents. Incandescents are only good for putting out bright light for about two minutes before they give out ultimately and are therefore not very energy efficient.

New energy-saving lighting options include LED lights. These are much more efficient than incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer. These lights also consume a lot less energy than their incandescent counterparts, making them ideal for homes with high usage rates.

Another way that energy-efficient lighting can save you money is through its effect on your electricity bill. With energy-efficient lights, your electricity bills will likely decrease over the course of a year. As you save on energy costs, you can potentially save hundreds of dollars per year. There are several different ways that energy-efficient lighting can make a difference in your power consumption. Here are some of those ways:

Using LED lights in your bathroom can drastically lower your power bill. If you already have energy-saving lighting options, install them in all of your rooms, including your bathroom. Floor lamps and table lamps are other great examples of energy-saving lighting ideas. Both of these types of lights don’t consume a great deal of energy and last for years. Overall, it can be easy to save energy by following these simple easy to follow tips.

The fourth-way energy-saving lighting ideas can save you money is by using LED bulbs instead of traditional bulbs. Traditional bulbs are more expensive to replace, meaning that they will eventually cost you much more than switching to LED lights. Besides, LEDs last for about half the time of traditional bulbs. This means that you won’t have to replace your lamps as often. This type of investment will pay itself off over time.

For even more energy efficiency ideas consult with a qualified electrician.…

You may be like many other people who are looking for ways to cut back on costs and just flat out spend less money each month. One of the first things to look at in your household is what you can do to cut back on your energy bills. Here is a list of 10 things you can easily do to lower utility costs.

Turn Off Lights

This is not a suggestion to just sit around in the dark, however, by simply only lighting the room you are in, you can bring down electrical costs.

Use Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

By swapping out regular incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs, you can save tremendous amounts of electricity. While the energy-efficient bulbs are higher in cost, they last many times longer than old-style bulbs, so the savings are seen over years.

Turn Back the Heat

By lowering the thermostat by one degree you will lower the heating costs considerably. If you are leaving your house for at least six hours, try turning the heat back by five or six degrees during that time. The heat will not work as hard when you are away creating savings for you.

Cap Your Water Usage

Install a low-flow showerhead in your bathroom or at least one that allows you to back down the flow during your shower. It’s amazing how much excess water runs down the drain while you shampoo. Backing it down until you are ready to rinse, can save several gallons every day.

Unplug Those Chargers

While they may seem harmless, leaving chargers plugged in when not in use actually taps electricity, not to mention being a potential fire hazard.

Replace Old Appliances

Old appliances use much more energy than newer ones, so if it is more than 10 years old, consider an upgrade.

Fill the Washer

Trying to wash only full loads when you run the washer rather than several smaller ones will cut back on water usage.

Use the Dishwasher

Hand washing your dirty dishes actually uses more water than running the dishwasher. Waiting until you have a nearly full load helps too.

Lower the Temperature on the Water Heater

If your water heater is set higher than 130 degrees, you are using too much energy to heat it. Bring down the temperature to this setting and you will see huge savings on electricity.

Check Seals on Windows and Doors

Heat escapes through air spaces around windows and doors, so make sure these areas seal properly, making your heating more efficient.

By taking a few small steps, you can make a noticeable dent in your energy bills, and put the savings to better use.

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