Electric and other utility bills are possibly the one major expense that most homeowners and renters race. Each month you perform the same tasks, use the electricity in the same ways but yet each month our bills are totally different. Most people believe that this is due to the rising and lowering temperatures outside. This may be a part of the problem but may not be the root cause of your energy usage. This is why hiring an energy audit company to do an inspection of your home can pinpoint problems you didn’t know you had.
Renewable energy systems
One way that you can help keep your energy costs down is to purchase a renewable energy system. Some of these systems are solar powered and have rechargeable batteries. When we install a renewable energy system in our homes we are maximizing our power reserve and lowering our constant usage of power.
Domestic hot water systems
Our hot water systems can be a large drain on our resource. If the water levels in the tank are too low or if there is a water leak, this can cause the bills to go up drastically.
Heating and cooling systems
Setting our AC units to a comfortable 75 or 76 degrees all year round will help keep our homes at a balanced temperature. This balanced temperature will keep our electric bills down and the stress on our units at a minimum as well.
Basements and crawl spaces
Basements and crawl spaces are generally not insulated. This will create a solid connection between the outside and inside temperatures. In many cases drafts will occur causing excessive temperature losses. It is a good idea to finish basements or at least install moisture barriers to help in preventing energy loss.
Major appliances and lighting systems
When purchasing appliances you will want to make sure they are up to code. Older appliances will tend to draw more power when in use. Lighting systems are also useful but can also draw a lot of power. It is suggested to go to energy efficient bulbs, LED’s and even put some lights on a dimmer or timer. When we can upgrade our appliances and manage the draw of energy from our lighting we can help prevent unnecessary energy usage.
Another thing that you can do is curb your power usage. Allow your computers to go into sleep mode when not in use, turn off televisions when not watching them and if you are going to go to sleep with the television on, set a turn off timer. If you wake up in the middle of the night you can always turn the television back on.
Windows and skylights
Windows and skylights are great sources of natural light. The more windows you have in your home the less need for artificial lighting. Try to keep your shades drawn during the hottest time of the day to prevent your home from getting too hot.