5 Easy Ways to Save on Utility Bills This Weekend
Warm weather is here and this is a time of year when the cost of using energy can get expensive if you’re not careful. Renters and homeowners can ward off a spike in their monthly utility bills by making a few minor adjustments and small investments.
Here are five surefire tips to strategically reduce your energy consumption this summer.
Give air filters and vents some TLC
Break out the dust rags and wipe down air filters and covers. You should also open up your vents to clean them up as well. A little elbow grease will go a long way to easing the amount of energy your HVAC system needs to use in order to keep your house cool.
There’s a common misconception that closing off vents in rooms that aren’t used will save money, but it creates undue pressure on your air conditioner, which forces it to work harder. So, keep all of your vents open all the time.
Close the blinds
It doesn’t get much easier than this. When the shades or blinds are pulled up and light shines through your windows, it heats up the house, causing the air conditioner to work harder than it needs to. By simply closing the blinds, you’ll keep your house cooler and save energy.
Upgrade to a programmable thermostat
Blasting the air conditioning during all hours of the day isn’t a formula for savings, especially if you’re leaving it on when no one is home. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, it’s well worth the investment.
You can easily automate the temperature to make it higher during the day and cooler at night, which is a winning strategy for conserving energy.
Unleash the power of your ceiling fan
Running a ceiling fan is a great alternative to blasting your air conditioner. The trick is to make it spin counter-clockwise. This motion helps to elevate the cold air from the floor to the ceiling and cool the room.
Shop around for better utility rates
Across the nation, energy has been deregulated for electricity and gas power services. Some states have only deregulated one form of power and others have deregulated both while other states continue to regulate energy markets.
Consumers win when energy is deregulated because they are allowed to choose their energy provider. In markets where energy isn’t deregulated, consumers are stuck with the local energy provider in their area.
While it’s nice to have a choice in the matter, consumers are still responsible for combing through the fine print if they decide to switch energy providers. For example, you’ll want to know how long you will be locked into the rate you’d receive when signing up.
Start saving on your energy bill today
As you can see, there are plenty of low or no-cost ways to reduce your carbon footprint. The key is to combine as many of these tactics as possible to realize the most savings.
