One of the easiest ways to save money while helping the environment is to save energy at home by making your house more energy efficient. By making a commitment to make environmentally responsible choices about your electricity usage, you’re working to help preserve our valuable natural resources for future generations. Being more eco-friendly with your electricity use doesn’t require a large lifestyle change or constant expenditure of time and resources. Rather, it takes a few small changes and a focus on mindfulness.
Energy Efficiency & Your Electric Bill
Sure, you compare electricity prices to find a good deal, but your energy charge per kilowatt-hour is only part of what makes up your monthly bill. The other key component is usage. By making energy-efficient upgrades, you can save energy at home and lower your overall usage. When you multiply your electric rate by your new, lower usage, you get a lower bill that leaves more money in your pocket at the end of the month.
Small Changes, Big Impact
Making the change to a more energy efficient home is cheaper than ever. With more and more homeowners focusing on eco-friendly actions, market demand has pushed prices lower for energy saving home accessories at a tremendous pace. While the latest in energy-efficient appliances might still enjoy a premium, earlier generation technology is fast becoming standard features across the board. Here are some of the most popular energy-efficient upgrades available to homeowners today.
LED Light Bulbs – Perhaps the easiest home retrofitting job available, LED light bulbs have seen a drop in price even as the technology advances. Early LED bulbs were expensive and offered single-direction light. Contemporary LED replacement bulbs designed for a standard light socket cost a few dollars, use a fraction of the electricity incandescent bulbs use for the same light, and can last up to 20 years.
Low-Flow Plumbing Fixtures – While this change may show up on your water bill and not your electric bill, it still helps save energy. The purification and treatment of drinking water uses an enormous amount of energy. These fixtures accomplish the same amount of work with less water. Using less water at home means saving energy for your community while you save money. This upgrade can be especially important in drought-stricken areas where high water use is penalized with higher rates.
Sensors, Programmables, And Other Smart Home Features – Technology has been a driving force in lowering excessive consumption of resources. Many intuitive at-home, energy-saving features have been added to technology we already use on a daily basis, such as the addition of sensors that turn off lights and appliances when a room is not in use, programmable devices that control thermostats and lights, and connected devices that let you monitor and control electrical devices from your smartphone.
Newer Energy Star Appliances – Replacing your older appliances with more energy-efficient models can have a big impact on your bill. Look for the Energy Star label that explains how much the expected annual energy usage of that item is, and how it relates to similar appliances in its category. Comparing expected usage can be important to saving energy at home.
Seal It Up Tight – You can expect your highest costs to generally occur in the summer and winter, months when energy is needed to keep indoor temperatures at a habitable level. As inclement seasons approach, check your doors and windows for gaps or cracks that can allow your air conditioning or heating to escape. You should also check the insulation in your home for proper thickness. A great method of saving energy at home is making sure you aren’t seeping your expensive heating and cooling to the air outside your house.
Watch Your Electric Bill – If there is a problem, it may show up there first. An appliance that’s stuck on, a collapsed duct in the attic, or damaged insulation may have symptoms that are easily missed. Unexpected spikes in usage could point to a bigger problem that needs investigating. In addition, your utility bill is a great resource when you need to compare electricity prices.
It Pays To Save
Saving energy at home is easier than ever. You can still live your life, you’ll just use less energy doing it. Best of all, it can increase the value of your home. As more and more younger, environmentally conscious buyers enter the home market, energy efficient features are fast becoming an upgrade for which they’re willing to pay a premium.
Get The Electricity You Need To Power Your Home
Saving energy at home is a great way to get the most for your energy dollar. You can also find real savings with a new, low-cost electricity plan. Compare electricity prices and shop for your new electric plan with Vault Electricity.