Fall is officially here! At NES, we want our customers to be prepared at all times, especially when seasons change. Seasonal changes can increase energy usage, which leads to higher monthly electrical bills. With winter just around the corner and holidays swiftly approaching, NES wants to help customers save money by sharing some tips to help lower their electric bills.
- Choose optimal appliance temperatures. Your refrigerator should be between 36-38 degrees Fahrenheit, your freezer should be set to 0 degrees Fahrenheit, and for a clean and energy-efficient laundry load, you should wash your items on cold.
- Switch to LED bulbs. They use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs!
- Cook cautiously. To save energy, opt to cook with your microwave or stove top. Covering your pots and pans while cooking on the stove can keep your apartment from becoming overheated. If you’re going to use your oven, try to cook everything at once to lessen how much energy you use per meal.
- Not using your device? Unplug it! According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, plugged-in but unused devices can set you back nearly $165 annually!
- During the winter, keep a watchful eye on your home’s heat system. Adjust your thermostat as close as possible to 68 degrees and bundle up in a cozy sweater, warm socks or a blanket.
- Report leaky faucets and broken appliances. Leaky faucets and broken appliances tend to use more energy than appliances that are working properly. If you notice that something isn’t working properly, let your landlord know.
- Clear the space around your air vents. Rugs, furniture and decor can affect your home or apartment’s air flow. Keeping your vents clear from items keeps you comfortable for less!
- Beware of bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans. Use exhaust fans sparingly to avoid pulling extra warm air out of your home.
- Let the sunshine in! Open your curtains or blinds on south-facing windows during the day to allow natural sunlight to heat your home.
- Switch your ceiling fan direction to clockwise. In the winter, ceiling fans can be used to create an updraft and circulate warm air around the room.
- Seal your windows and doors. If you notice cracks around your windows or doors, apply caulk to the cracks to prevent warm air from leaving your home and cold air from coming in.
For homeowners and commercial customers, other ways to lower electric costs include installing energy-efficient appliances and redesigning spaces to optimize energy usage. Customers can also utilize NES’ Balanced Billing feature. Balanced Billing makes life easier because it evens out the highs and lows of an electric bill by averaging a customer’s annual energy usage.
That means, significant drops in the outside temperature won’t result in large spikes on a customer’s bill. Customers can also take a quick online do-it-yourself audit to learn how to make easy, energy-efficiency improvements at home. They’ll also receive a free energy-saving kit in the mail!
To learn more about ways to lower electric bills, visit NESpower.com.
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