Home may be sweet, but the rising cost of utility bills is definitely not. Now I'm sure I am not the only one who as a kid was frequently instructed to turn off the lights, TV, or faucet when not being used. Although those habits will definitely help reduce energy costs, here are 5 more changes you can implement right away to start saving big on those utility bills.
- Change out those old school incandescent light bulbs and replace them with LED bulbs. I know that the upfront cost may be a bit higher than sticking to those 4-pack-for-$.98 of incandescent bulbs, but really they are not very expensive and the savings is crazy! When we first moved into our home, every ceiling and bathroom fixture came with incandescent light bulbs. It took me about 2-weeks as we moved in to replace those bulbs. Even though we were not yet living there full-time while we were hauling our stuff over, our first electric bill was $60. That may not seem like much, but after replacing every bulb in the house with more efficient ones, our electric bill drastically reduced to $20. Even in the Summer months when we occasionally run the AC (we have high ceilings that keep the house cool) our electric bill rarely spills over $55. Another plus to these bulbs is that they last about 10x longer than regular light bulbs, so in the long-run they actually are cheaper because you won't need to buy them so frequently. Tip: Check your local dollar store for LED bulbs. I have found these gems sold individually there for a buck where big box stores would sell them for much more.
- Check your hot-water heater settings. Some manufacturers preset their water heater thermostats to about 140 degrees Fahrenheit according to Energy.gov. A more cost efficient temperature that is still plenty hot for those steamy showers, would be around 120 degrees. This 3-minute fix could skim nearly 20% annually off of your energy bill not to mention a good safety measure if there are children in the home who may be accidentally scalded by hotter water temperatures. Tip: Follow your water heater manufacturer instructions on how to lower your temperature settings.
- Collect rain water. In Southern California, the occurrence of rain is a rare, joyous occasion that is usually considered a noteworthy event and often a conversation starter. Nonetheless, if you like to attempt to keep any type of garden like me, watering outdoor plants can turn into a pricy hobby and even be imposed to watering restrictions if drought conditions emerge. This year, we installed rain barrels to catch the runoff from our roof and boy were we surprised at how much water we collected with just one rainy day. We had harvested nearly 100 gallons of rain water! The best part is that you don't need a fancy container to do it. We started out with a couple of 45-gallon trash cans with wheels that we just rolled out of sight once the rain was over.
- Ask your utility company if they have an energy savings program. Many electric and gas utility companies offer energy savings programs that anyone can enroll in regardless of income. These programs are aimed at promoting energy efficiency and less waste by alerting you if you are projected to go over your monthly energy usage goal that you set for your household. As an incentive for joining, they usually offer some pretty cool items such as faucet aerators that reduce the gallons of water per minute output from bathroom and kitchen faucets, a couple of water saving shower heads (with massage settings!), and a couple of energy efficient light bulbs. Aside from these neat free gadgets, the energy goal reminders help with staying on track with budgeting utility bills. When partnered with programs such OhmConnect, you could actually make money by reducing your energy consumption. Last year I made over $200 just by reducing my electricity consumption. Check out Ohmconnect.com for more information and use the invitation link https://login.ohmconnect.com/ref/139111 for a $10 bonus just for signing up!
- Upgrade your window coverings. Windows are a major energy consumption influencer. If not properly insulated, they'll leak unwanted outside temperatures into the house, making your heating and cooling system work harder while costing you more money. Look for curtains that reflect UV rays or that are at least double-lined. I have found that curtains that state on the package that they are energy saving are the most efficient at maintaining the desired temperature of the room. If you love natural light in your home, window non-adhesive cling film with heat and UV reflecting qualities are a cinch to install without running the risk of damaging the window with adhesives (make sure you use the non-adhesive cling type), plus they come in several different designs that will upgrade the style of any room.
