There are several steps that you can take to save utility costs. Many of these steps are those that you can implement yourself even if you have little experience with hardware. But, certain measures are more advanced and require professional assistance.
However, the expense and effort are justified due to the amount of money that you will end up saving.
Here are 11 ways to save utility costs. Just some help you with your personal finances.
1. Negotiate to Save Utility Costs
Take a closer look at all the expenses on your utility bills. Highlight any expenses that you do not understand or that you feel are excessive. The next step should be to call up customer support for a clarification. In case you are burdened with extra costs, you can have them removed this way to save utility costs.
2. Energy-Efficient Appliances to Save Utility Costs
Another great tip is to purchase energy-efficient appliances. Make sure to invest in appliances with an Energy-Star rating. Appliances that qualify for the Energy Star are put through rigorous testing for this certification. There can be a difference between appliances in terms of energy savings even if they carry the Energy Star symbol. That is, Energy Star appliances can save costs, but some appliances save more than others. It is advisable that you do your research to find out which ones save the most energy.
You may be pleased to find out that Energy Star rated appliances do not cost substantially more than their ordinary counterparts. Along with saving utility costs, you will also have peace of mind knowing that you making an environmentally-friendly decision.
3. Hot Water Heater
Reduce the thermostat on your water heater to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Not only will you save utility costs this way, you will also be able to avoid the annoyance and possible injuries from scalding hot water coming out of the shower.
4. Cold Setting for Washing Clothes
Laundry detergents are now so advanced that they can clean clothes adequately even with cold water. Hot water was necessary back in the day when laundry detergents had relatively moderate washing capabilities.
You should change the setting to normal water temperature and see how it goes. It is quite likely that your clothes will come out clean. You may need to use the hot water setting only for heavily soiled clothes. You can save utility costs this way.
5. Caulk Windows
Your heaters and air conditioners work extra hard (and incur plenty of expenses) to bring the air inside to desirable temperatures. However, quite a bit of this effort goes to waste due to air leaking through your windows and doors – even while they are closed. The trouble is that when the air is leaking from the interior, the electricity consumed in bringing this leaked air to the right temperature is also going to waste.
You can reduce energy losses and cut down on your energy bills by installing weather-stripping on your door and windows.
6. Smart Showerheads
Smart showerheads are now available that do not let any water through before it reaches the right temperature. The main issue with conventional showerheads is that you have to leave them running for at least a few seconds before properly heated water starts flowing. To prevent this waste, you should purchase a showerhead that enables water flow at the right temperature. You can save utility costs this way.
7. Air Dry Clothes
Although you can use the tumble dryer feature on your washing machine, you can turn it off to save utility costs and still not experience any major inconvenience. If you live in a place with unbroken sunshine, then you can hang out the wet clothes and expect them to dry fairly soon.
8. Indoor Cooking During Winters and Outdoor Cooking During Summer
If you cook food indoors, then the heat from your stove can actually keep you warm and reduce your reliance on your heater. You can save utility costs during the winter with this trick.
During the summer months, you can cook outdoors to reduce the heat burden on your air-conditioners. This way, your air-conditioners will not have to remove extra heat emanating from the cooking range.
To further save utility costs, you can reduce your reliance on pots and pans that use gas for heating. Instead, you can resort to greater usage of slow cookers and microwaves that make better use of energy.
9. Ceiling Fans
Make sure that your ceiling fans are spinning in the right direction. During the summer season, the fans should spin counterclockwise so that the breeze comes towards you. This will keep you cool and reduce your reliance on air conditioning, thus saving utility costs.
During the winter months, the fans should turn clockwise so that the breeze is going away from you. This will help to recirculate warm air towards you which rises to the top of the room.
You can change the fan direction by using the small switch which they carry for this purpose.
10. Smart Power Strips
After turning off the main device, several devices will be turned off simultaneously if there is a smart power strip. For instance, suppose you turn off your computer. The power strip will also cut off electricity to the desk lamp, monitor, and any other peripheral devices attached to your PC. Likewise, a powerstrip will also power off devices when you turn off the TV like video game consoles and DVD players. Even when you switch off the main device, smaller devices do consume some electricity even during the standby mode. A smart power strip can help you save utility costs.
11. LED Bulbs
If you are still not using LED bulbs, then you should make the change quickly since this can save utility costs by a substantial amount.
Not only do they use 75% less electricity, they also last much longer to further save costs.
In short, there are several steps that you can take to save utility costs. You can consult a professional to find out more. X ways to cut down utility costs
