January 10th is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, an observance that
raises awareness of how homeowners and renters can reduce energy costs and improve
energy efficiency. Energy bills are higher during the winter months, so
customers have to be particularly mindful of the energy they are using
around this time of year. Identifying unnecessary energy usage can
drastically reduce the cost of a consumer’s monthly electric bill.
In honor of the national observance, here are some ways to lower your power
bill and save energy around the home:
Adjust the Thermostat
One of the easiest ways to save on your heating bill is to turn the thermostat
down and bundle up with a cozy sweater and warm socks. A programmable
thermostat can make it easy to keep your house at the recommended
temperature of 68 degrees when you’re at home, while automatically
adjusting the thermostat to turn down a few degrees when you leave or go
to sleep.
Lower Your Water Heating Costs
If you have an older tank located in an unheated area, wrapping it with a
water heater insulation blanket is a cheap and easy way to reduce water
heating costs. You should also turn down the temperature of your water
heater to the recommended setting of 120 degrees.
Find and Seal Air Leaks
Use caulk or weather stripping to seal leaky exterior doors and windows. If
you can see light around your door threshold or feel cold air seeping through
your windows, you’re losing energy and reducing the comfort level of your
home. The best heating system in the world won’t help much if your house is
drafty. Watch our short video for step-by-step instructions on Preventing Air
Leaks Around Windows & Doors.
Maintain Your HVAC Unit
Change your air filters and schedule regular maintenance to help increase
the efficiency and life of your furnace. This will keep your house warm while
also saving energy. A dirty filter will slow air flow and make your system
work harder.
Open Your Curtains or Blinds
Keep curtains and blinds closed on the sunny side of your home to block out some of the heat, while opening blinds on the shady side to provide natural lighting without raising the temperature.
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