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Go turn off all your lights. Feel better? You should, because you just saved some money on energy. Sure, we might be talking just a few cents, but those cents add up. Keep those lights burning around the clock and watch how your power bill will skyrocket.
Turning off lights is not only a fast fix for saving on energy costs but also one we can all understand. The same with taking less time in the shower. That translates into less water consumption/waste and, again, you’ll see it reflected on your bills. Lights off. Fast shower. Is there anything else that can save on energy costs? It’s a good thing you asked, because there are, and they’ll probably come as a surprise to you.
1. Shut Off Vampire Power
When you see the words “vampire power,” are you thinking of a pint of O-negative? With regard to energy, vampire power refers to all the power that is sucked up by your various electronic devices when they’re not in use. These would be things you probably don’t think about, such as a cell phone charger or power strip. The moment they are plugged into an outlet or powered on, they are using up energy. Even a computer that goes into “standby mode” is still draining power.
How big of a deal is this? According to the Department of Energy, you could be throwing out several hundred dollars each year. In other words, you could pay for an upgrade on those gizmos with all the money you save by turning them off.
2. Be a Smart Lighter
Even though you’re switching off your lights, as you should, there are other smart choices you can make with regard to your light usage. Your outside lights should be on motion sensors. That way they won’t need to burn all night long. Inside, you should swap out all your old standard bulbs and replace them with more energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
Whenever possible, lamps should be placed in a corner so they can reflect the light off the walls. That way you might not need more than one lamp per room. Also, make sure your lamps and television aren’t near a window AC unit. The heat from those devices will put a strain on the AC and cause it to work overtime to cool things off.
3. Switch to Geothermal Water
Using less water is a positive first step toward reducing your utility bills, but that’s not all you can do with regard to your water. Usage isn’t always the issue as much as heating that water. That is where the big power drains occur. One solution would be to switch to a geothermal heating system.
Much like solar panels for the roof, a geothermal system taps into the earth’s natural resources by going underground. No, you won’t have to drill down to the earth’s core of molten lava. However, a completed earth loop pipe system buried about six feet underground can do the trick. Geothermal systems can produce hot water more efficiently by circulating that water back into the water heater. The result can be virtually free hot water. When it comes to saving money, free is always good.
4. Put in a Programmable Thermostat
It makes zero sense to heat or cool your home when no one is in there. Yes, it is nice to come home to a cozy environment but that shouldn’t be at the expense of your power bill. Instead, a programmable thermostat will allow you to determine when your heat or AC gets flipped on. It can be half an hour before you get home. Perfect. It can also shut down once you and your family have left for the day.
Incidentally, when it comes to cooling off your home, you’re better off running the AC at 74 as opposed to 70. Those four degrees won’t really have an impact on the coolness but can make all the difference with regard to energy savings.
5. Keep the Stove Off
When it comes to cooking, your microwave, toaster oven or counter-top grill are a much more efficient use of energy than firing up your stove. Those counter top devices also help keep the temperature down in the kitchen and the rest of the house. If you do have to make a large meal, when you’re done using the stove, keep it open a crack to help heat the house while it cools down. No sense wasting energy.
6. Pack Your Fridge Better
How barren is your fridge? If all you have in there is a jar of pickles and leftover Chinese take-out, then you shouldn’t be opening that door at all. Every time you open the fridge, the warm air from outside blasts into the cool air. The more open space, the more work the fridge has to go through to keep things cool when the door is shut. So go ahead and fill up your fridge and freezer. Just don’t stand there with the door open.
Now that you have some helpful tips to cut your energy bills down, you still have something to decide on. Just what are you going to do with all that extra money?
