Saving Energy Without Breaking the Bank
Energy is not just the monthly bill you have to pay
each month; it is the foundation of everything you do and the life to
everything you have. But with the increasing cost of energy, it cannot
be denied that we need to take important measures to limit our energy
consumption. Saving energy becomes a must and a habit that everyone
should seriously adapt.
Heating and Cooling.
Almost half of your electric bill goes for your heating and cooling
systems so if you really want to maximize your savings here are the
following things you can do:
Clean your air filters at least once a month.
Clean baseboard heaters, radiators, and warm-air registers as often as
necessary; make sure that they are working properly; and that they are
not blocked by drapes, carpeting, and furniture.
Set the thermostat as high as is comfortable when it is hot or as low as
is comfortable when it is cold.
Turn off exhaust fans (kitchen, bath, others) 20 minutes after cooking
or bathing. Keeping them on for a long time affects the temperature of
the room.
Lighting and Appliances
As much as possible, use natural lights – working near the windows will
prevent you from turning on the light and consuming energy. Utilize the
power of the sun.
Switch off the lights every time you leave the room even if it is just
of a minute.
If you are using the 4-foot fluorescent lights, install reflective
backings to maximize the light.
Switch to compact fluorescent lights. There are 4-watt minifluorescent
lights and 40-watt fluorescent lights have the same illuminating effect.
Turn off all lights and appliances when not in use. Unplug unnecessary
appliances like microwaves, television, stereos, computers, and VCRs if
you are not using them. Also, unplug chargers and devices with
bloc-shaped transformer on the plug. All of them consume energy when
plugged in. Do not leave them on "stand-by" mode.
Look of Energy Star label when purchasing lighting product.
Use task lighting instead of lights that cover the entire room. For
example, use lamp shades when reading and not the lights for your room.
Laundry
Washing your clothes cold will reduce washer's energy consumption by as
much as 90%. Air drying eliminates the energy use for machine drying.
Always do full loads whenever possible. If you are washing a small load,
use appropriate water level and wash setting.
Refrigerator
Maintain a right temperature for your freezer and refrigerator.
Do not hold the refrigerator or freezer open. The energy consumption
increases if the motor works endlessly just to maintain the temperature
of the refrigerator and freezer.
Check for leaks and cracks in the gasket. Make sure that your
refrigerator is completely sealed to maintain the temperature inside.
Insulation
Heat loss happens when your house is not properly sealed. Use sealants
or weather-stripping on windows.
Make sure that air cannot escape or enter in to the pipes, doors, walls,
floors and ceilings. A properly insulated home saves as much as 10% in
electric bill.
In a typical household monthly electric bill, 44% goes to the heating
and cooling systems; 33% goes to lighting and other appliances; 14% goes
to heating the water; and 9% goes to the refrigerator. Take note of this
power distribution to know where exactly you can maximize your saving.
About the Author: D. Benjamin is the owner of
iapsales.com LLC - a family business specializing in HVAC products. We
are distributors of
Qmark Heaters,
electric tankless water heaters,
bathroom heaters,
patio heaters, electric heaters, portable air
conditioners & electric towel warmers. Shop online at
www.heateroutlet.com for these great home improvement products.
Iapsales.com LLC was established in 2003 and is the sister company to
Innovative Air Products located in historical Exeter, NH. We are a 2nd
generation manufacturers’ rep firm dedicated to providing residential &
commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. We offer
a great selection online at the lowest prices anywhere. We can also be
found on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube