By AJ Danboise
With rent, taxes, and groceries eating into your monthly income, the last thing anyone wants to worry about is high utility bills. And unfortunately, utility bills aren’t cheap. According to the EPA, a typical household in the U.S. spends around $2,000 annually on energy bills. The good news, you can boost your family’s budget by finding ways to reduce your consumption! Although some simple steps can help reduce your energy consumption, such as turning off the lights when you’re not in a room, you’ll still need to do more in order to save money.
At AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical, we put the needs of our customers first. We are happy to share our top 5 money-saving tips to help lower your utility bills.
- Double Check Lights and Plugins
- Control Your Thermostat
- Seal Windows and Air Leaks
- HVAC Upkeep
- Buy Energy Star
When you sleep at night or leave your house for the day, double-check that all your lights and fans are turned off and your electronics are unplugged. Some common appliances that use a lot of power, such as microwaves and coffee makers, should be left in standby mode to save money. Also, unplugging electronic devices such as televisions and computers can save you money. If you prefer to leave certain devices (like phone chargers) plugged in at all times, consider buying a power strip to turn off the power to all of the devices at once by hitting just one button.
A programmable or smart thermostat can be set to lower or increase the temperature before you leave automatically. This will stop you from heating or cooling an empty home. This will help you save money on your energy bills! The US Energy Department says that turning down the temperature by a certain amount can save you up to 1% per 8-hour period. The best temp for the summer months is 78 degrees, while the best temperature for the winter months is 68 degrees. Depending on the weather, you could turn your heat or air conditioning completely off when you are out of the house since no one will be home.
If you seal up the cracks and crevices around your windows and walls, you can reduce your energy costs significantly. When temperature-controlled air leaks out of the crevices of your home, it forces your HVAC to work harder. This can be a major problem during summer or winter when its job is most important. As air leaks out of your house, money does too. As your HVAC works to correct the temperature, it requires more power. Look to get your windows and air leaks sealed to save money!
Do not neglect your HVAC. Have a professional inspect it annually, and keep the interior components clean. If you forget to change your filter regularly, your HVAC will run less efficiently and drive up your utility cost. You can even reduce its lifespan since it has to work much harder than it would normally. Change your filter at least once every 90 days, or in some households with lots of pet hair, once per month. This will help prevent dirt buildup and keep the system running smoothly!
All sorts of goods for your home can be purchased as “Energy Star certified.” This means that EPA has given these products an official seal of approval for their energy efficiency. Whether you are investing in a brand new appliance, like a refrigerator or washing machine, or you simply need to change a lightbulb, there are Energy Star options for everything. The best news is, these products are not drastically more expensive than their less energy-efficient counterparts. The more energy you save, the more money you save too.
We hope these simple tips and tricks can help take some extra money off your utility costs and put it back into your wallet where it belongs.
AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical is here to help with all your plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical needs in Farmington Hills, Canton, and surrounding areas. Contact us at (248) 477-3626
