Utility bills can be scary, especially in peak seasons. They shouldn’t be. There are things you can do, large and small, that can help you reduce your energy costs in your budget. Big things, like investing in high-efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment, are going to have the largest impacts on your monthly statements. However, these bigger changes are not the only way you can save. Some smaller adjustments don’t require any expense on your part.
Here are some smaller things you can do to help lower/control your monthly expenses. Some of these we’ve probably told you about before (possibly more than once), but they’re all good practices!
- Turn off the lights when you aren’t in a room.
- Lower or raise the temperature your thermostat is set at (depending on the season).
- Keep all your vents and registers open.
- Keep the windows and doors of your home closed.
- Change your furnace filter.
- Switch to high-efficiency light bulbs.
- Operate your ceiling fans correctly for the best distribution of air – clockwise during the winter and counter-clockwise during the summer.
- Seal your windows and doors.
- Set your thermostat to “AUTO” instead of “ON.”
- Wash your clothes in cold water.
- Take shorter showers.
- Open or close curtains depending on the season.
- Unplug items like televisions, kitchen appliances and more when they aren’t in use.
- Layer up before turning up the thermostat during the winter.
- Have a timer for your lights.
- Take cooler showers.