Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Enoch Omololu, from SavvyNewCanadians.com
Energy consumption has been on the rise for decades, and depending on where you live and your income, energy costs can make up more than one-fifth of your after-tax income. When you are looking to cut your household expenses and save more money, your spending on utilities is one place where savings can easily be made.
There are several options for cutting back on electricity usage. Some are radical, while others are simple tweaks that will not alter your lifestyle drastically. I always prefer to go with “simple.”
There’s no better time to cut your energy bill than in winter when your furnace is likely to run 24/7. If you are a Game of Thrones and a Ned Stark fan, get ready to save with these 6 great tips as “Winter is Coming!”
1. Lower Your Hot Water Heater Temperature
Most hot water heaters come with a pre-set temperature of 140 °F (60 °C). This is a much higher temperature than you need for your household use. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a temperature setting of 120 °F (48.9 °C). At this temperature, you will not only save 10% in energy costs, you will also reduce the risk of injuries from scalding.
Other simple ways to lower energy usage by your water heater include:
- Installing insulation on hot water pipes
- Covering the water heater with an insulating jacket
- Updating by installing a tank-less water heater which produces hot water only on demand
2.Maintain Your Furnace
A furnace is one of the main consumers of energy in winter. You can help your furnace to work more efficiently by replacing the air filter regularly, and ensuring that intake/exhaust pipes and air registers are always open.
Every 1-2 years, get a professional service done to ensure your furnace stays in top working condition and to avoid costly emergencies during the deep freeze months.
3. Be Smart With Using The Dish and Clothes Washers
Fill up your washing machine and dishwasher every time you use them to save on electricity. The heat setting on your washing machine and dishwasher consumes the most energy. Most clothes can be effectively and safely washed using the cold water setting on your washing machine to cut energy use by up to 75%. For dishwashers, use the economy setting, and air dry to save money.
While the clothes dryer definitely needs heat to function, you can make it work more efficiently by ensuring the lint trap is cleaned out regularly.
4. Install a Programmable Thermostat
Approximately 48% of your energy costs are related to heating and cooling. We can all agree that it is cumbersome to have to adjust your home’s temperature every time you leave home, come home, or go to bed. A programmable thermostat automates the process by setting default temperatures for different scenarios.
Dress comfortably and keep the thermostat at 68 °F (20 °C) when you are home and awake, and at 65 °F or lower when you go to bed. For every 1 °C (1.8 °F) you lower thermostat, you save 2% in energy costs.
5. Eliminate Vampire Power Losses
You can save between 5-10 % of your utility expenses by eliminating energy losses due to standby power usage (also known as phantom loads). Plug your Television, computers, DVD player, etc. into a smart power strip that automatically turns them off when they are not in use.
If you do not want to invest in a smart power strip, simply unplug electronics and appliances when you are done using them.
6. Insulate Your Home
Weatherproof your home by installing insulation where required, including in your attic, basement, and other crawl spaces. Basement insulation alone can reduce heat loss from your home by up to 25%. Check weather-stripping on windows and doors and replace them if they are worn. This will stop air leaks and save energy.
In winter, open shades and blinds during the day to utilize radiant solar energy in warming up your home. At night, close them to keep the heat inside.
There are many more ways to save money around your home. For more savings tips, check out my complete list of 100 Ways Frugal People Save Money.
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