The two leading consumers of electricity in most homes are your water heater and your HVAC system. Typically, energy costs tend to go up during both summer and winter. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to save on energy costs around your home or office.
Amidst the current financial woes, cutting costs continues to be a key goal for every home and property owner. By implementing the right tactics, you could end up with a few dollars in your pocket at the end of the month.
Lafayette Electricity Statistics
If you live in Lafayette, you’ll be glad to know that the average cost of residential electricity is 13.38% less than the national average.
You don’t have to be told that this is fantastic news for homeowners. However, there’s still room to bring the cost even lower.
To accomplish this goal, please observe the following:
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Energy Audit
The first step toward reducing energy costs is to carry out an energy audit. This will shed light on areas you are losing money. The Department of Energy’s website goes into how you can do this yourself. Alternatively, you could hire a professional to assist you.
Green Switches
A green switch is a smart device that regulates the power that goes into all your electronics once plugged into a green switch outlet. Unknown to some, all electronics, while plugged in, continue to draw power even while turned off.
Just think about it, most individuals leave their TVs, home theatres, stereo, and computer plugged in throughout. If this is you, consider getting yourself a “green switch” as you are practically bleeding yourself dry.
Bulbs
Light bulbs offer the simplest means of saving on energy. By moving to energy-efficient bulbs, you can drastically lower your energy expenses. Not only that, these bulbs tend to last much longer, compared to less energy-efficient traditional bulbs.
If you still prefer to use the older kinds of bulbs, you can still save a bit of energy too. To do this, use lesser bulbs than you are used to. Additionally, you can add motion sensor lights for the hallway and outdoor lights.
Solar
Currently, the cost of owning and installing solar panels has significantly dropped, making it affordable for most homeowners. Conversely, there are Federal tax incentives meant to encourage property owners to adopt solar.
As previously stated, gas or electric water heaters tend to contribute to the energy bill significantly. On the other hand, solar water heaters don’t, thus consider purchasing one.
Insulation
Another energy-intensive process around the home involves heating and cooling. Ensuring your home is adequately insulated during spring and fall, you should witness a drop in the amount of energy consumed.
Also, take your time to seal off all the cracks around the windows, doors, and any other area that’s not sealed correctly. This prevents drafts.
There are dozens of ways to save on energy costs. These five are meant to get you started. As trivial as some of these methods may seem, the results speak for themselves. They may not be practical in every situation, so feel free to add any other alternative solutions.
