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10 ways to cut energy costs

10 Ways to Cut Energy Costs

Sacramento HVAC Company’s Guide of Top 10 Ways To Cut Energy Costs

Everyone’s always looking for another way to save a little money. Below lists ten ways you can adjust your home to be more energy efficient which not only lowers your costs but helps out the environment as well. If you have any questions on how to cut energy costs, speak with a Sacramento HVAC company today.

1) Get a tune-up!

People usually take the advice “don’t fix what’s not broken” a little too seriously and neglect to maintain their home heating and cooling systems until something dramatic goes wrong. By scheduling an appointment for preventative maintenance, individuals can save on energy costs by 5 to 40%. This depends of course on the system and equipment installed. Regularly having a profession assess and tune your equipment can extend its life and improve its capabilities.

2) Unplug unused devices

Many consumer electronic devices continue to use power when plugged in, even when turned off. This is commonly called “vampire” power, or just standby power. When there are several electronics in one household using “vampire” power, the costs can really add up. In fact, “vampire” power may contribute to as much as 10% of your monthly energy bill, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. What devices consume “vampire” power? Some of the most common are listed below:

  • TVs
  • DVD players
  • Computers
  • Printers
  • Microwaves
  • Coffee Makers
  • Radios
  • Phone chargers

Most items that can be plugged in may be using “vampire” power and costing you money while not in use.

3) Use LED lights

LED light bulbs are a highly efficient alternative to lighting your home. LED lights use only 10% of the energy it takes to use an incandescent light and less than 50% the energy of compact fluorescent bulbs. LED bulbs themselves cost a little more than their incandescent and fluorescent counterparts, but the cost is quickly recovered in the savings on electricity costs.

Be sure to turn off your lights when you aren’t using them! If having lights on when you’re not home gives you a sense of security, consider hooking them up to a timer so they aren’t on at all hours of your absence. If you have any specific questions, contact a Sacramento HVAC company.

4) Change your air filter

Having a filter that is clogged or dirty means having a filter that is less efficient, increasing the workload of your systems and leading to a much higher bill. Consistently changing a home’s air filter can result in 5 to 15% savings on the monthly utility bill. Air filters should be checked every month and changed every three months. Air filters are not very expensive, so this is a very easy way to lower costs and to improve air quality in your home!

5) Use Low Flow Shower Heads

Switching to low flow shower heads can save significantly on energy costs by decreasing water consumption by over a third. Using less water also means you are heating less water- saving in two places.Taking shorter or cooler showers can also help decrease costs.

6) Keep the refrigerator full

Liquids and solids take a lot longer to warm up than empty air. Every time you open the refrigerator or freezer door, a lot of cold air escapes and is replaced by room temperature air, which then has to be cooled down. Filling your refrigerator and freezer with foods that don’t go bad quickly or even keeping gallons of water or ice in your refrigerator can reduce your energy costs.

7) Check for leaks.

Turn off all water inside and outside the home and be sure no water is being used inside the house for 30 minutes. Check the water meter before and after this 30 minute period. If there is a change, there may be a hidden leak.

Toilet leaks.

It can be determined if your toilet is leaking by dropping a few drops of food coloring into the back of the toilet and waiting ten minutes to see if any of this coloring has reached the toilet bowl.

Sink leaks.

That drip drip sound that is so annoying might also be costly! Be sure to check under the sink for water damage indicating a leak.

Shower Head leaks.

Showerheads often leak when the connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem is disrupted.

Outdoor leaks.

Hoses and spigots can leak when they aren’t connected properly or when the spigot can’t be completely shut off.

8) Lower your water heater’s thermostat.

It is almost never necessary to use the hot water as hot as it will go. Lowering the thermostat on your water heater can help save on energy costs.

9) Weatherproof your home.

Insulating windows and doors helps prevent conditioned air from escaping, saving on the cost of heating or cooling a home.

10) Run the dishwasher and washing machines when full.

Running machines when only half full means doing twice as many loads – at twice the energy expenditure.

Speak To a Sacramento HVAC Company On More Ways To Cut Energy Costs

There are many ways you can cut down on your energy costs. At Clarke and Rush, we have over 50 years of experience keeping you and your community comfortable while reducing the energy costs. Give us a call at 916-609-2669.

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