7 Energy Efficiency Tips For Homeowners

Heating and cooling expenses can be some of the largest items in your budget. After your mortgage and home insurance bills, it's possible that these take the biggest financial toll.

Here are some ways to reduce your energy costs:

1. Lower your water heater temperature. Setting your water heater to 120 degrees is warm enough for most people. If you keep it any hotter than that, you'll need to cool it down with cold water. When you do that, you're wasting the energy that was used to heat the hot water. Make the change and see if anyone notices. Chances are, they won't!
2.  Use energy saving power strips. Not only will you keep your assortment of electrical cords tidy, but you'll also be able to save electricity by only turning on the ones you need to use, when you need to use them. Make sure power strips are unplugged when no one's using them.
3. Seal windows and doors. Every spring and fall, you should check these areas and caulk any places where air can leak through. In older homes, you might need to put plastic over the windows.
4. Go back to nature. Invest in a drying rack to hang clothes on in winter, and in a clothesline to use in summer. Hanging two loads of laundry a week will make a good impact on your energy bill.
5. Keep your fridge and freezer full. Both are more energy efficient when full. But don't overfill these and pack them tight; there needs to be room for airflow. Add water bottles to take up space, if necessary.
6. Don't charge your devices overnight. They only take a few hours to get a full charge, so there's no need for them to charge for six to eight hours. Make a habit to charge them around dinner time so you've got a full charge by bedtime. Leaving them plugged in overnight also runs the risk of starting a fire if they get too hot.
7. Replace air filters regularly. Check your owner’s manual to see how often filters need to be changed, and then implement those practices. When filters are dirty, the system has to work harder, thus using more energy.

Also, check with your electric company to find out what tips they recommend in your area. They may offer discounts for using certain products or making changes to your home. You might even qualify for lower home insurance rates due to implementing these or other home safety tips.