Does your energy bill keep going up? Did you know that saving energy can lower your monthly costs? Several factors including your home’s square footage or your family size can affect your energy consumption.

Look at your daily routine. How many loads of laundry do you run? Do you leave your TV while you fall asleep? These habits can create energy waste and as a result – a higher energy bill.

According to National Grid, a more energy-efficient home can lower your bills and increase your comfort. You’ll improve the performance of your home with these ideas, saving you money.

Lighting

  • Make use of natural light sources during daytime hours by keeping blinds and curtains open.
  • Turn off lights, appliances, TVs, audio devices and computers when not in use.
  • Replace outdated lighting with ENERGY STAR® certified lights, which last up to 25% longer and use up to 90% less electricity than older incandescent bulbs.
  • Turn your lights off during the day, which can save up to 40%.
  • Use dimmer switches to save energy and change the mood in a room.

Electronics

  • Smart power strips can help you control the amount of energy your electronics use. If you don’t have one, unplug the electronics you aren’t using.
  • Don’t leave chargers plugged in if they’re not charging your devices. They’re still drawing energy.
  • Adjust your TV’s display settings to significantly reduce its power use without compromising picture quality.

Appliances

  • Make sure to only run full loads in the dishwasher and dryer and don’t forget to clean the lint filter after each use.
  • Did you know you can conserve energy by simply flicking a switch? The switch on the side of your fan reverses the blades to spin clockwise, pushing hot air down into your home during the colder months.
  • Set your refrigerator’s temperature to 38°F.
  • Try to minimize the number of times you and the family open the fridge and freezer during the day.
  • If you have a toaster oven, use it to reheat or cook small meals. It uses less energy than a traditional oven.

Heating

  • Lower your water heater setting to 120°F to save energy and prevent scalding.
  • Revisit your thermostat settings to make sure they’re changing with the weather and your schedule.
  • You can’t be everywhere at once! When not spending time in certain areas of your home, turn down the heat supply to those rooms to reduce your energy usage.
  • Conserving water is a great way to save energy and money in your home.
  • Stop leaks. Repairing even small leaks saves gallons of water and thus dollars each month.
  • Install water-saving faucets and low-flow showerheads.

Heating and cooling

Both heating and cooling can have a big impact on your comfort – and your budget. Discover how to make them work better in your home.

  • Keep doors and windows closed while running your heating or air conditioning system to reduce air loss.
  • Clear areas in front of vents from furniture; blocked vents require up to 25% more energy to distribute air.
  • Vegetation, solar screens, and awnings can be used to prevent the sun from making your home too hot in the summer. In the winter, do the opposite: Raise shades and blinds to let the sun warm your home.
  • Calibrate your thermostats to ensure accurate readings. Adjust your thermostat up or down depending on the season and lower the setting any time your home is unoccupied.
  • Use programmable thermostats to adjust heating and cooling when rooms are unoccupied, saving you energy and up to $180 a year.
  • Upgrade outdated heating and air conditioning equipment to newer, more energy-efficient models. You’ll save as much as 30% on energy costs in the long term, reduce maintenance, and improve the comfort of your home.
  • Perform regular heating and air conditioning maintenance. Change filters monthly to improve air quality and reduce energy use. Establish a maintenance contract with your vendor for regular tune-ups, which help decrease equipment breakdowns and unnecessary air loss.

Insulation and air sealing

To save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs, make sure all ceilings, roofs, exterior walls, and wall cavities are adequately insulated. Common air leakage points to check and seal:

  • Around plumbing, electrical, and duct work in exterior walls.
  • Any chases open to spaces like an attic.
  • Gaps between interior and exterior walls and ceiling sheetrock.
  • Around sheetrock, including between interior and exterior walls and where sheetrock is sealed to the subfloor.
  • Openings around windows.
  • Floors, including cantilevered floors and band joist areas in floor systems.
  • Kneewalls in Cape-style homes.
  • Joints between existing buildings and additions or modular buildings.
  • Adding a reflective roof coating can also help improve energy efficiency.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with Adirondack Bank. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. Adirondack Bank is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the information provided or the content of any third-party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. Adirondack Bank makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.

Source: https://www.nationalgridus.com/Upstate-NY-Home/Energy-Saving-Tips/

Chat