How Can I Lower My Energy Bill?
How can you find ways to lower your energy bill?
Spring has sprung! The grass is green, the birds are back, and it’s starting to heat up around Oklahoma. Can you believe we’ve already been in the 90s this spring?
You probably turned your air conditioner on, at least for that day! With the weather heating up already, it could be a longer than usual ‘warm season’. Not only is it time to tune up your air conditioner, but you may also be wondering how you can reduce your energy bill to help mitigate the cost of staying cool.
Here’s some energy saving tips from energy.gov to help you save money this year:
Appliances / Electronics - Both appliances and electronics are expensive, but when it’s time to purchase new ones, make sure you’re choosing energy-efficient products. Operate them efficiently by unplugging them when they’re not in use, and using advanced power strips to help reduce "vampire loads" (electricity that is wasted when electronics are not in use).
Lighting - Again, it’s important to purchase energy-efficient products and operate them efficiently (check out our blog on what bulbs to buy). You can also incorporate more daylighting into your home using energy-efficient windows and skylights.
Electric Space Heating and Cooling - You guessed it, start by purchasing energy-efficient electric systems and operating them efficiently. You can also incorporate passive solar design concepts into your home, which include using energy-efficient windows. It’s also important to properly insulate and air seal your home. You could also select an energy-efficient heating system that doesn't use electricity.
Electric Water Heating - Purchase an Energy Star heat pump water heater and operate it efficiently. You can also reduce the temperature on your current water heater to help save some cash. In general, water heaters are set to 140°F at the factory. You’ll want to make sure to keep it to 120°F or above to keep bacteria from growing. This temperature may not work for everyone, those with a suppressed immune system or respiratory disease should keep the hot water set to 140 degrees.
Reduce Your “Always-On” Appliances/Electronics - If your home has a smart meter and you can see your hourly consumption, then examine your consumption at 3 am. It should be significantly less than your use at 7 pm. If it isn’t then you might have “vampire loads” (see above). Look for electronics that you don’t use or can switch off, or perhaps get rid of that extra refrigerator in the garage. Unplug anything you aren’t using to help reduce the draw on power, especially those with a power light (think crockpots, toasters, laptops, game stations, and power cords).
For more tips to improve the overall energy efficiency of your home, visit the Energy Saver home energy assessment page here.
