Here are a few surprising and simple ways to cut your energy bill this season.
Put lamps in the corners: Did you know you can switch to a lower wattage bulb in a lamp or lower its dimmer switch and not lose a noticeable amount of light? It’s all about placement. When a lamp is placed in a corner, the light reflects off the adjoining walls, which makes the room lighter and brighter. Additionally, during morning hours, you can use natural light instead of artificial illumination to reduce your energy bill. However, to manage the heat, you may have to adopt solutions like secondary glazing, especially for Listed Buildings, since it can increase the energy efficiency of the building.
Switch to a laptop: If you’re reading this article on a laptop, you’re using 1/3 less energy than if you’re reading this on a desktop.
Choose an LCD TV: If you’re among those considering a flat-screen upgrade from your conventional, CRT TV, choose an LCD screen for the biggest energy save.
Give your water heater a blanket: Just like you pile on extra layers in the winter, your hot water heater can use some extra insulation too. A fiberglass insulation blanket is a simple addition that can cut heat loss and save 4% to 9% on the average water-heating bill. However, if you again begin to notice significant increases in your water usage, you are likely dealing with a malfunctioning water heater. In which case, hiring water heater repair charlotte nc professionals, or similar other services would be advisable.
Turn off the burner before you’re done cooking: When you turn off an electric burner, it doesn’t cool off immediately. Use that to your advantage by turning it off early and using the residual heat to finish up your dish.
Add motion sensors: You might be diligent about shutting off unnecessary lights, but your kids? Not so much. Adding motion sensors to playrooms and bedrooms cost only $15 to $50 per light, and ensures you don’t pay for energy that you’re not using.
Spin laundry faster: The faster your washing machine can spin excess water out of your laundry, the less you would need to use your Clothes Dryer. Many newer washers often spin clothes very effectively, this would cut the drying time and the energy consumption in half, which might result in an equal drop in your dryer’s energy bill.
Use the dishwasher: If you think doing your dishes by hand is greener than powering up the dishwasher, you’re wrong. Dishwashers use about 1/3 as much hot water and relieve that much strain from your energy-taxing water heater. Nonetheless, if you find that the dishwasher is causing you headaches by leaking or overflowing and that is responsible for your high electricity bills, then you might want to look for a plumbing service of comparable caliber similar to MVP, to fix the leaks. Once the leak is fixed, you can happily go back into using your dishwasher. Added bonus: you don’t have to wash any dishes.
Use an ice tray: Stop using your automatic icemaker. It increases your fridge’s energy consumption by 14% to 20%. Ice trays, on the other hand, don’t increase your energy costs one iota.