More time at home usually means more energy is being used, but that doesn't mean you have to spend considerably more money on your electricity bill every month — as long as you take steps to conserve. Here are our top five easy ways to save energy around the house.
1. Unplug, unplug, unplug
Other than the refrigerator, only a few of your appliances need to be plugged in 24/7. And for those that you can unplug, you should. Why, you might ask? Because they’re still using up energy even when not in use. Often we leave them plugged in just out of habit, but some research suggests that these so-called “energy vampires” can account for as much as 10% of an average electricity bill. So when in doubt, unplug, unplug, unplug.
2. Optimize
Fridges, as well as freezers, operate more efficiently when full. Dishwashers waste energy when they run without a full load. Clothes washers use more energy when you choose warm water over cold. All this is to say, learn how to get the most efficient energy consumption out of your appliances and optimize accordingly.
3. Flip the switch
Did you leave the room? Then turn your lights off! It’s perhaps the most repeated rule for saving energy, and yet lighting accounts for almost 12% of the average bill. If you want to cut back on your energy spend, this is one of the easiest and most obvious ways to save.
4. Go natural
Pull back the blinds to let light in, and use lamps or other small devices, rather than overhead lighting, to illuminate your space. If the weather is nice and your windows are screened, open up your windows to let the fresh air in to cool off your living space. Sometimes Mother Nature can do the work for you.
5. Set a schedule
It’s a good idea to set a schedule for when you run your appliances. Dryers and dishwashers emit a lot of heat, so it makes sense to run them during the cooler hours of the day. And in the reverse, when temperatures outside cool down, it’s a good time to set your programmable thermostat a little higher than you would during the day.
But no matter how you use energy, 100% clean electricity greens your footprint and protects the environment. Sign up for a plan powered by renewable energy, like wind and solar resources, to help keep our planet a cleaner, greener place to be.
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