
Understanding the Problem
The most obvious sign that there is a problem with your energy consumption is your energy bill. If it is higher than you would like it to be, this is a sign that you need to find ways to stop using so much energy. However, the bill will not give you the information you need to reduce your most costly energy expenses. Turning the lights off when you are not using them helps, but the savings may be small compared to what you could do if you targeted your most energy-hungry machines. The purpose of an energy audit is to show you which aspects of your electricity usage are costing you the most money. There are three types of energy audits:- Professional Energy Audit
- Free Energy Audit
- An Energy Audit You Can Do Yourself
Heating and Cooling Your Home
Temperature regulation is, on average, responsible for anywhere from 35 percent to 40 percent of a home’s energy bill. This makes it one of the best places to start saving money. To start, here are a few actions you can take to increase the efficiency of your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC):- Replace your air filters once a month.
- Get your HVAC serviced twice a year.
- Check your HVAC’s manual, so you understand which temperatures it operates best at and which temperatures are most likely to increase the cost of your bill.
Reducing Light and Water Energy Consumption
Though your HVAC is most likely using the most energy in your house, there are a number of other appliances using excess energy. Some of the ways you can reduce their energy consumption are common sense — unplugging your devices when you are not using them, for instance — but others require a bit more thought or expertise. Incandescent light bulbs are a good example, as they can use up to four times more energy than the more efficient Compact Fluorescent light bulbs. Another area to look at is water consumption, as this is on average the second biggest energy expense after temperature regulation. Two of the biggest ways you can reduce this expense are by spending less time in the shower and using cold water to wash your clothes. Once a season, you should also perform maintenance on your water heater. The owner’s manual should help you to determine how best to maintain it and performing this activity helps increase the heater’s efficiency.Gadgets That Can Save You Money on Energy Consumption
The above tips can help you save money on your utilities bills without making additional purchases, but there is technology out there that can help you save money in the end. Better yet, not all of it is as expensive as you might imagine. Take the lamp timer, for instance. It should cost $10 or less, and it can help ensure that your devices are only on during the hours you typically use them. This can be great for items you would forget to turn off manually during the night, like a cable modem. A smart power strip performs a similar function, but instead of relying on time to decide when an item should be turned off it relies on a ‘parent’ item. This means that the smart power strip automatically turns off TV speakers when your TV is off, for instance. This ensures you are not wasting energy on a device that is not in use. Solar panels are the flashiest and most well-known device for saving money on your energy bill, but they can cost thousands of dollars. This means they are not well suited for people who are already struggling to pay their bills, but they can be a smart long-term investment if you feel that your energy bill is unreasonably high. They are also well suited to individuals who are simply worried about the environment. If you are considering buying a solar panel, get quotes from as many companies as possible. However, do not be afraid to get quotes from smaller companies: their prices often beat the competitors.By Admin –