by homewarranty.com
‘Tis the season for homeowners to save energy – and money. Tradition is what makes the holidays such a special time of year. However, most of us also follow the tradition of overspending. Here are some tips to help homeowners like you save energy to save money, and keep a little extra green in your pocket these holidays. ‘Tis the season for homeowners to save energy.
Upgrade Your Lighting
LED light bulbs are far more energy-efficient than their counterparts. Opt for yellow tones for bedrooms and brighter, whiter tones for work areas, such as the kitchen.
Install a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermometer allows homeowners to program an optimal desired temperature for any hour of the day. According to EnergyStar.gov, homeowners can expect to save about 8% on their energy bills each year.
The Highs and Lows of a Smart Thermostat
Insulate
Cold air finds its way into your house through gaps you may not even consider. Overworking your heating system will come back to bite you on your energy bill. Seal any gaps you find with caulk or window and door sealing tape. This will also be a big help when summer rolls around.
Turn Down Your Water Heater
Tank water heaters remain at the ready all day every day to provide your home with the hot water it requires for laundry, showers, dishes, etc. If you turn on your tap to “hot” and you cannot hold your hand beneath it, your water heater is probably set too high. Lowering the temp of your water heater can lower your energy bills.
Tankless Water Heaters
Often called “on-demand,” tankless water heaters provide hot water on an “as-need” basis. This means no “standby” energy losses that come with traditional storage water heaters. Less energy means lower energy bills.
Tankless vs. Traditional: Which One is Better?
Use a Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans aren’t just for the summer. Make sure you change the rotation of the ceiling fan so that the blades turn clockwise in the winter. This forces the fan to push warmer air from the ceiling down to the floor where it’s needed. Keep the winter speed on a low setting. The idea is to circulate the air, but without creating a draft in the room.
Seal HVAC Ducts
The average home loses about 20% of the air moving through HVAC ducts to gaps in connections, poor insulation, and holes. This is according to the Department of Energy. Make sure your ducts are intact and insulated.
Clean Your Coils
We don’t pay much attention to the back of our refrigerators, but here might lurk the energy suck of dirty coils. Refrigerator coils contain coolant, and keeping them clean helps them run more efficiently. Any appliance that runs more efficiently will cost you less to operate.
Install Dual-Flush Toilets
Dual-flush toilets are slowly catching on here in the U.S. but have been saving Europeans up to 30% in water consumption for years! It’s simple: dual-flush toilets allow you to choose between a smaller flush for liquid flushes and up to a 1.6-gallon flush for solid waste.