When it comes to managing monthly expenses, many homeowners are not aware of how much they may be overpaying for their energy expenses. Even though they may be concerned with saving money and conserving energy, many individuals feel that it’s a lot of work to implement changes that are to their benefit. It doesn’t take much effort for you to cut your energy bills. Here is a brief overview on how you can keep more of your money by adjusting your energy and heating and cooling usage habits.
Turn Off the AC
Many people are so obsessed with having a cool home that they forget to turn their air conditioners off when they leave home for more than a few days. It does not matter how hot you anticipate it to be when you return. Running your AC for an empty home is just wasting energy. There are other things you can do to cool your home and not waste heating and cooling energy. For example, make sure your windows are closed and curtains are drawn. You should also turn off all lights in your home since they generate a lot of heat. Don’t forget to turn off any appliances that generate heat before you leave to make your energy and heating and cooling bills more manageable.
Unplug Appliances and Electrical Equipment
You may be in the habit of leaving appliances and electrical equipment on when they are not in use. Although this may seem like it is a convenient thing to do, it is an expensive habit you should break. Even though they may be in sleep or idle mode, many electronic devices and appliances still pull energy. As long as they are powered on, they will cause your energy bills to be higher than they should. Hence why many appliances are called energy vampires. Do yourself a favor and remember to completely shut off any items that are not in use. You can even go as far as unplugging them so you can lower your home’s energy usage to make your energy and heating and cooling bills cheaper.
Wash Full Loads of Laundry
As much as you may not enjoy doing the laundry, there may be times where you feel it’s better for you to wash smaller loads. That is not a good idea. Washing small loads wastes water. Also, if you’re using hot water for your washes, you are wasting money. Hot water shortens the life of your clothes and it also costs more to use. Start washing full loads of laundry with cold water and you’ll see a noticeable decrease in your home’s energy and heating and cooling bills. While you’re at it, you should also lower the temperature on your water heater by a few degrees and upgrade all your appliances to more efficient ones. Before you buy, check out the Energy Star Website to review efficiency ratings on different appliances.
Get an Energy and Heating and Cooling Audit
Sometimes a source of high energy and heating and cooling bills is not so obvious. There could be leaks in your home that you have yet to discover and fix. Get a professional energy and heating and cooling audit so you know what kind of leaks you’re facing and where they are. That way you can take steps to correct them and stop your home from hemorrhaging money and energy.
Cutting your home’s energy and heating and cooling bills is not as challenging as you think. With a few behavioral adjustments and improvements to your home, you can maximize your savings and comfort. For more heating, cooling and ventilation advice, contact us at M & A HVAC Services by calling (615) 431- 2500.
