Due to climate change, many energy companies are raising their prices to avert people from using so much energy. While this is great for the environment, it is not so great for your wallet. If you are living on a fixed income, then you may be worrying about how much money it is going to cost to heat your home this winter. With climate change booming and winters growing colder, you cannot afford to go without heat. If this impending winter has you worried about high energy costs then keep reading to learn about tips and tricks to save energy and save money. You will be helping out the environment and keeping your wallet full throughout the entire winter. Plus, most of these tips you can even use in the summer too in order to cut your energy costs all year long.
Turn Off Your Appliances
If you are not using your television then turn it off. The same goes for your lights, computers, radios and other electronics you may have. If they are not being used, then do not have them on. Each second that your electronics or lights are on is more money coming out of your wallet to pay your energy bills. If you are really struggling to pay your energy bills then you can even take breaks from your television and computer. Instead of watching television at night before falling asleep, turn on a small lamp and read for a few hours. Any little bit counts and will go towards saving you major bucks on your next energy bill.
Switch Your Light Bulbs
Use low watt bulbs in areas of your home that are not used often. Low watt light bulbs do not shine as brightly as high watt light bulbs but they also do not consume as much energy. Switch to low watt light bulbs in your closets, hallways, and foyers. You may even want to switch your bathroom lights out for low watt light bulbs if you have windows in your bathroom.
Open Your Blinds
During the winter months if you open your blinds then you can let more sunlight into your home. This will brighten up your home and cause you not to have to use your own lights during the day. It will also allow a bit of heat to seep into your home from the sun so that you can turn your own heating system down. During the summer opening your blinds have the opposite effect. The harsh summer sun can heat your house quickly when your blinds are open and cause you to have to overwork your air conditioner. If you do open your blinds during the day in the winter, then close them immediately as the Sun sets. This will help retain the heat in your home and lower your heating bills.
Maintain Your Heating and Cooling Systems
Ensure that your heating and cooling systems are in good working order before winter sets in. A faulty heater can add to your energy bill by working harder than it should to heat your entire house. If you have an older heating system then it may even save you money to have an energy saving heater installed in your home before winter sets in.
Weather Strip Your Home and Add Insulation
Weather strip or seal around your windows and doorways to keep cold air out of your home and warm air inside of your home. You can also replace old windows with energy efficient windows to keep your home warm. Another great way to save energy is to insulate your attic and crawl space to keep the warm air inside of your house.
Use Fireplaces
If you have a wood burning fireplace then use it during the winter. Firewood is often very cheap and by using your fireplace you can keep your heater turned down extremely low. This will save you a tremendous amount of money on your overall heating costs.
Reduce Your Hot Water Use
Use cold water in your washer to wash your clothes to save money and energy. Cold water can clean your clothes as easily as hot water can and it is cheaper to use. Also, try to only wash full loads to save on energy and water costs. You can also lower the hot water tank thermostat to reduce energy costs. Many hot water tanks are set at very high temperatures that can scald humans. By lowering the thermostat on the hot water heat you can prevent burns, save energy, and still have very hot water for your shower.
Laundry
When doing laundry, dry your loads of laundry one after another. Do not wait long periods of time between loads because then your dryer will lose some of its heat. By drying the loads one after the other you can save energy and reduce heat loss. Also clean the lint filter after every load to maximize your dryer’s efficiency. A dryer with a lot of lint stuck in its lint trap can take twice as long to dry clothes versus a dryer with a clean lint trap.
Unplug Equipment
When you are not using your appliances such as your coffee maker, toaster, blender, and others unplug them. Each of the electronics and appliances that are plugged in at your home right now are drawing in energy. This can drastically add to your energy bills each month, so when not in use, unplug the electronics and appliances.
Saving energy is good for the environment and your wallet. By saving energy you can help slow climate change and be part of the crucial movement to slow down global warming. You can also drastically reduce your energy bills and make it through the harsh winters without much increase in your bills from previous years. Take these tips and try them out to see just how much your energy bill can drop.
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