5 Tips for Reducing Your Home Energy Usage
If your energy bills are high every month and putting a dent in your budget, take heart in the fact that there are many ways to reduce this energy usage. By planning and using forethought, you can reduce your energy usage and your energy costs.
1. Thermostat Settings
One of the biggest consumers of energy in your home is the heating and cooling system. The EPA estimates that by adjusting your thermostat between 7 and 10 degrees Fahrenheit, you can reduce your energy use by as much as 10% annually.
In the summer, set the temperature at 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you are home and between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit when you are away. During the winter, set the thermostat no higher than 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you are home and 60 degrees Fahrenheit or lower for periods of time that you are absent from home.
2. Programmable Thermostat
A programmable thermostat allows you to easily program your desired temperature settings to operate automatically. You can have the thermostat set higher while you are at work and set lower right before you arrive home. If you have a “smart” thermostat, you can also set it remotely via an app on your phone.
3. Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are useful in keeping cooling energy costs down, but they do not actually cool the room. Ceiling fans cool people, not the air. However, by cooling the inhabitants of a room, you can set the thermostat a few degrees higher without any discernable loss of comfort. When you use ceiling fans, remember to turn them off when leaving the room.
4. Thermal Curtains
Thermal curtains are heat-blocking curtains that serve to reduce the amount of heat entering the room through your windows. These curtains will prevent heat from entering the home during the summer and trap the heat inside in the winter.
5. Turning Off Appliances
Turning off your items that use electricity will save you on energy costs. Turn off the lights and fans when you leave a room and set your computer and related equipment to energy-saving modes. Utilize power strips to easily cut the power to groups of items as appliances like TV monitors continue to use a small amount of energy even when turned off.
Electricity usage is typically the highest expense in running your home. Maverick Electrical Services has been providing the Lincoln, CA, communities with superior electrical work for many years, and our comprehensive services include all relevant residential and commercial electrical functions. For information on how we can help with your electrical needs in Lincoln, give Maverick Electrical Services a call today.
