January 10, we celebrate National Cut Your Energy Costs Day. Maybe this is the first you’ve heard of this, but no worries. We’ve got some great tips to get you involved in this important day. National Cut Your Energy Costs Day encourages us to find ways to reduce energy costs and save on our energy bills. There are always plenty of significant things you can do around your home to cut your energy costs. Let’s get your family thinking about the small ones first.
Baby Steps to Cut Your Energy Costs
- Take shorter showers
- Lower the water temp of your water heater
- Run the dishwasher only when it’s full
- Use energy-efficient light bulbs
- Unplug unused appliances
- Carpool whenever possible or use public transportation
- Turn down the thermostat – or as your mom always said – put on a sweater!
- Just like your dad always said – turn off the lights when you leave a room!
Those weren’t so difficult, right?
Slay the Vampire (Power)
What is Vampire Power? Appliances that suck energy from your home even when the appliances are turned off. Just like its evil namesake, Vampire Power often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Vampire Power, also known as Vampire Energy, or Standby Power, can account for 20% of your electricity bill, according to paylesspower.com,
Modern connectivity keeps our devices leeching energy. Your TV may be off, but it’s always ready to receive a signal from your remote to power up. Every cord plugged into an outlet is using electricity, as our devices use it to perform updates, connect to servers, etc.
The most common remote-ready culprits?
- Desktop computers and displays
- Faxes and printers
- Satellite and cable boxes
- Stereos
- TVs
- Microwaves
- Garage door openers
- Video game consoles
For great tips and solutions on how to manage and identify your other energy-sapping devices and appliances, visit The Complete Guide to Vampire Power.
Ready to Take Some Bigger Steps?
Are you interested to learn how your household’s energy use compares to similar households? Learn more at ENERGY STAR’S Home Energy Yardstick to learn how your home uses different types of energy. Here are some more impactful ways to cut your home’s energy costs.
- Weatherproof your home
- Replace old windows with new energy-efficient windows
- Replace your old furnace with an energy-efficient furnace
- Properly maintain your furnace
- Invest in solar power
Read details about these more ambitious tasks for cutting your energy costs at news.energysage.com‘s 5 Tips to Cut Your Electric Bill in Half.
Just like with any New Year’s resolution, give yourself and your family a little time to make adjustments. Once you notice your electric bills on the decline, it may inspire you to Celebrate National Cut Your Energy Costs Day every day of the year.