Five Easy Ways to Save Energy

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With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people found themselves losing their jobs or being confined to their homes, unable to work. During this time of economic hardship for many, everyone could use a little extra money, and one easy way to keep some in your pocket is by saving money on your energy bills. Want to know five easy ways you can save energy for a great start to this new year? Then keep reading!

Set a schedule for your thermostat 

Many thermostats give you the ability to schedule your heating and air conditioning, keeping your home at the perfect temperature for you in the morning and evening. Just as importantly, scheduling means turning the heating and cooling off when you’re at work or asleep.

Turn lights and fans off

Here comes the obvious one: Keep your lights and fans off when not in use. Doing so might not seem like much, but over time, it can save you hundreds of dollars on your electric bill. Additionally, consider switching to LED light bulbs, which use less energy. The upfront cost, which is just slightly higher, will be worth it financially over the long run.

While people often mention keeping your lights off to save energy, one thing spoken of less often is your ceiling fans. Your ceiling fans cool you off by blowing air at your skin, not by actually cooling the air, so it doesn’t cool your home to have ceiling fans running when you’re not in the room.

Use cold water when you can, and turn down your water heater

The water heater is one of the most overlooked home appliances that can use a lot of electricity. In fact, the water heater is one of the biggest reasons why your electric bill rises during the winter, even if you aren’t using the heating in your home.

Time your dishwashing and clothes washing

Your washer, dryer, and dishwasher use a lot of electricity and a lot of water, so you should be careful about how often you run them. Try to wait until your dishwasher is completely full before you run it, and do the same with your clothes for your washer and dryer. Most cycles will use the same amount of energy and water whether the load is large or small, so this tip will help you use less energy than running multiple small loads.

Many dishwashers and clothes washers have settings that save water and increase energy efficiency, so use these settings whenever possible. If you live alone or with only one other person, consider washing dishes by hand and skipping the dishwasher altogether.

Close your curtains, or open them!

People often underestimate the difference that letting in some sunlight can have on the temperature of their homes. During the summer, keep your curtains closed through the day to block out sunlight and keep the home nice and cool, and during the winter, open your curtains or blinds to let sunlight through. This tip will help you control the temperature of your home naturally, without straining your heating and air conditioning systems.

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