Saving energy means saving money. Ways to save come in all shapes and sizes, including ones at no cost. Energy efficiency will increase the comfortability of your home and makes larger projects worth the investment. Below are tips and tricks to help you save energy & money.
Here are ten tips that any good energy saver should not live without.
1. Replace any light bulb, especially ones that burn more than one hour per day, with a light emitting diode (LED) bulb.
2. Seal from the inside. Air sealing is an inexpensive way to lower energy costs and improve comfort. Seal gaps and holes in walls, floors, and ceilings with caulk or foam sealant. Look for cracks around windows and where wires and pipes pass through.
3. Plug electronic devices such as cable boxes, printers and TVs into power strips to turn off during vacations or long periods without use. Smart power strips make it an easy task to save money.
4. Close shades and drapes during the day to help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.
5. Change your central HVAC system filter when dirty by the manufacturers recommendations. Dirty filters can impact your home comfort and increase your electricity bill.
6. A one degree increase in heating setpoint or reduction in cooling setpoint can increase energy use by 3 – 5%.
7. Have your duct work checked for leaks. Leaks at the return, air handler and supply can be a major source of high bills. Mobile homes check at the grill, cross over duct and down flow air handler, for leaks.
8. Set both the upper and lower water heater thermostats no higher than 120 F.
9. An electric space heater can cost more than $100 per month to operate. Minimize their use, except for limited or temporary spot heating. Turn space heaters off when leaving the room.
10. Ensure refrigerator door seals are tight. Eliminate unnecessary refrigerators.
For 101 Easy Ways to Save Energy & Money from Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, Click Here.
Below are 3 more resources from Touchstone Energy Cooperatives to help you save energy & money.
Hover or click the box to access each guide.
HOME ENERGY SAVINGS GUIDE
BUILDING THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS
QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN REPLACING YOUR HVAC
Home Efficiency Analysis
Want to see if your home is really that energy-efficient? Touchstone Energy has a home efficiency analysis tool that can help you determine what improvements you can make in your home to improve your energy efficiency. Just provide some information about your home, and this tool will give you some quick tips and fixes to decrease your energy use and costs.
See more Touchstone Energy Efficiency tips here.
The Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives put together ways to reduce your energy costs.
Keep track of monthly energy consumption in your home and on your farm. Identify changes in your patterns of use and how seasonal temperature changes impact your utility bills.
Take a few moments now to work through this guide. Then, if you still have questions about energy use & costs, call us here at Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative.
We’re here to help!
Kill-A-Watt Test Meter
CMEC has kill-a-watt meters available for members to rent out. These meters help members determine how much specific electronics & appliances are affecting their bills. Interested in renting one out? Fill out the form below and return it to our office. The form can also be emailed to info@cmec.coop.
Stop Energy Vampires & Save Money
You may have energy vampires in your home stealing money from you right now. Some electronics draw power from the outlet and money from your wallet, even when they are turned off. They go into standby mode, which uses electricity for features like displays and remote controls.
There are many household appliances that constantly use energy including televisions, computers, microwaves, cell phone chargers, printers and game consoles.
Safe Electricity has advice to help you put a stop to energy vampires in your home:
- Unplug electronics that you are not using.
- If you have a room that you do not use regularly, plug electronics into a power strip, and turn off the power strip when items are not in use. Power strips can also be useful in areas where there is a large concentration of electronics like in an office or an entertainment system.
- Purchase smart power strips for your computers and televisions. These devices sense when the computer or television is sleeping or off. The smart strip cuts off power to related electronics, such as video game consoles and printers.
- Buy low-standby products. Most Energy Star endorsed products draw smaller than average amounts of electricity when turned off.
- Avoid electronics with extra features that you do not need as these might use more energy.
Energy Efficient Products
When you shop for a new appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. ENERGY STAR products usually exceed minimum federal standards by a substantial amount.
The ENERGY STAR logo is on all qualified products that meet specific standards for energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR-qualified products exceed the federal minimum standards for efficiency and quality — sometimes significantly. Look for the label on appliances, electronics, water heaters, windows, and other products that consume energy in your home. Below are a few sites to help you pick out your next new appliance.
