The Best Ways To Lower Your Energy Bills (Title)
The cost of living seems to have risen dramatically over the last few years, and many of us are now looking at ways that we can lower our household bills without affecting our quality of life. Here are some tips involving both small and big measures that can help you lower your energy bills.
Small and big changes
A small change that is easy to implement is to turn down your heating thermostat. Even reducing the temperature in your home by just one degree can deliver energy savings of more than $100 per year. If you feel a little cool or chilly, instead of turning up the heating, add another layer of clothing.
You can also be clever with the way you heat your home. Instead of heating the entire property, which may include rooms that are little used, program your thermostat only to heat those rooms in use and to come on only at certain points in the day. After all, if you go out to work, there is no need to have the heating on.
Another small change involves the replacing of standard light bulbs with energy-saving bulbs. If you change every bulb for an energy-saving bulb in your home, this could equate to a saving of almost $110 every year. There is also the advantage that you will not need to change your light bulbs as often, because energy-saving bulbs last longer.
Routine and regular maintenance of your home can also help you keep energy costs low states we buy houses Fresno. Give your property a once-over to see if you have any leaking pipes or faucets and if so, fix them. Also check around your windows to see if the plaster has crumbled away to leave gaps between the wall and the frame, letting in drafts. Plug these up using a sealant.
Talking of windows, did you know that the window dressing can affect the heat in your home? Drapes, for instance, when pulled and hung directly against walls or window frames, can help keep the cold out and the heat in. An even better way to insulate your room, and indeed, help to maintain good airflow during the summer months is to install Plantation Shutters.
These fit very snugly into window frames, not only ensuring that cold air cannot bleed through into the room, but also affording privacy and a means of regulating the light. And with all of the available places online to order practically anything you need with shipping to anywhere in the world, it doesn’t make sense not to take advantage of them.
A major change that will reap dividends is to have your home properly insulated. Although there is a significant initial outlay, insulating your basement and attic areas can save you upwards of $450 over the course of a year, while insulating cavity walls can save around $250 every year.
Lastly, when your appliances, such as the refrigerator, washing machine and boiler, need to be replaced, opt for models that are energy-efficient. For example, a new gas water heater, complete with a timer, could reduce your gas bills by $500.
There are plenty of ways that you can be more energy-efficient in your home, ways that are not only good for your bank balance, but good for the environment as well.