Winter is here, and for much of the country that means higher energy bills. The cost of energy has already been on the rise and a potentially record-setting winter could combine for record-high utility bills, but there are a few upgrades you can do in an afternoon to help reduce your energy usage without breaking the bank. While some of these may not pay for themselves in the first year, their lifetime savings are definitely worth it.
- LED Bulbs: Probably the cheapest upgrade you can do, modern LED bulbs have come down dramatically in price in recent years. Far more efficient than incandescent, and much more than even fluorescent, LED bulbs can last for years and are one of the most efficient ways to light your home.
- Smart Thermostat: Smart Thermostats have changed the game with controlling your home’s temperature. With the ability to keep track of when you’re home and away, they can alter your temperature to only use the minimum amount of energy possible to keep your home comfortable. Some utilities companies can even use your smart thermostat to prioritize heating / cooling in off-peak energy usage hours to reduce your bill. Even more surprising is the number of utilities companies that will pay for part or all of the cost of a smart thermostat, so be sure to check your own local offerings!
- Change Your Air Filter: This one sounds basic, but an old air filter flows a lot less air and can make your HVAC much less efficient. Also, you should be doing this anyways because have you ever seen your dirty air filter? Gross… Most HVAC systems recommend changing the filter between every 30 or 90 days. Check your system’s recommendations and just stick with it.
- Spray-In Insulation: If you’ve got an older home, and haven’t ever upgraded your attic insulation you’re probably wasting a ton of heat and cooling. Spray-in insulation is relatively cheap, and some national home improvement / hardware stores even have programs where you can rent the machine for free when you buy the insulation from them. Some estimates say that you can actually save the cost of the insulation in the first full year after installation!
- Use That Dish Washer: A modern dish washer actually uses less water than hand-washing in most situations. And lets face it, you don’t want to wash those dishes yourself anyways!
While these are some of the cheapest and easiest ways to help reduce your utilities, there are some more drastic measures you can take like upgrading your windows and appliances, but these typically take much longer to see a return on. What are your energy saving tips?