4 Ways to Keep Your Energy Bill Down This Fall
Saving on energy costs is something that you should aim to do throughout the year. This is because if you’re not careful, you may end up with an energy bill that could break the bank. While there are a number of demands on energy in fall, perhaps more than in any other season, the best news is that it’s possible to keep energy consumption low. Here are four of the ways in which you can do this fall and enjoy a comfortable home that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg in the end.
1. Be Strategic With Landscape Lighting
Landscape lighting is one of the things that most homeowners use to improve their home’s security and curb appeal. While this is the case, it tends to cost more energy to the home than would have otherwise been used. You can have the best of both worlds by using lighting but saving money in the process.
Did you know that people remember a mere 10% of what they hear and just 20% of what they read? In contrast, they remember an amazing 80% of what they see. This should show you that it’s possible to make an impressive statement with outdoor lighting that’s placed in a strategic way. This should be just enough to make a statement, but low enough to help keep energy bills manageable.
2. Clean Your HVAC Filters
Another helpful tip for you to help you with your saving goals is for you to clean your HVAC filters. This can help you enjoy cleaner and fresher air while also keeping your energy bills considerably low. In fact, when you change the system filter of your HVAC system, you can lower your home’s energy consumption by anywhere from 5% to 15%.
The best part about all of this is that changing the filters in your HVAC is something that’s easy enough for you to do all by yourself. Keep up with the recommended durations for changing the filters so that you can reap the maximum benefits from doing so. You could even keep a handy stock of new filters at hand so that you don’t have to head to the store for new ones each time you need to change them.
3. Unplug Electronics
It’s also a good idea for you to unplug your system’s electronics after you’re done using them. That’s because electronics, even after they’ve been turned off, continue to use up energy so they stay on standby mode. This is a small cost, but it adds up over time and with each piece of appliance in question. Do away with this issue by plugging your appliances on a power strip so that it’s easier to turn them all off by turning the power strip off or disconnecting it. Even something like a printer can save you considerable energy when turned off while not in use. While employees print an average of 10,000 pages annually on average, this doesn’t mean that printers must be kept on all day.
4. Clean Your Roof and Gutters
Last but not least, clean your roof and gutters thoroughly. Get rid of leaves and fallen debris that has accumulated in the gutters during the just concluded season. This way, they won’t have to handle a lot of unnecessary weight in the fall, which could lead to their failure. Your roof will be secured because water will drain effectively off of it. The driveway will be kept safe because the water will be directed away from it by the downspouts. This should make it easy for you to see just how important the role played by the gutters is.
In these four ways, you can keep your energy bills reasonably low this fall. When you make these habits part of your life, you can make savings all through the year. You’ll also live a considerably more sustainable life to boot.