Increasing your home’s energy efficiency can not only lower your electric bills, but they also help save the planet! While there are big changes you can make to drastically reduce your energy consumption, like new vinyl windows, there are also small changes you can make to start saving electricity right now! 

Increase the Temperature

When you’re away from home, make it a habit to increase the temperature on your thermostat by a couple of degrees. This will help your AC turn on less during the day when you’re not home to enjoy the temperature anyways. In the winter, do the opposite: lower the temperature on your thermostat 2 degrees lower than you’d normally set it! According to Energy.gov, this trick will save 5% to 15% every year.

Unplug Unused Devices

Devices that are plugged in but not in use still suck up energy! According to energy.gov, “Unplugging unused electronics — otherwise known as “energy vampires” — can save you as much as 10 percent on your electricity bill.” Plug devices into a power strip so you can easily toggle the power on and off as needed. Energy vampires continually draw electricity as a “standby” setting, and unplugging these appliances when not in use can save you anywhere from $100-$200 every year!

Inspect Your Windows

Light a candle and place it next to all the windows in your home. If the flame flickers, you might have a draft! Consider adding weatherstripping around the frames and add a bead of silicone caulk over any cracks in your drywall. Sealing gaps and cracks is an easy and inexpensive way to lower energy costs.

If you can feel warmth or cold air coming through your windows, your glass package is NOT energy efficient and is warming or cooling your HVACs hard work. Consider switching to vinyl windows to extend the life of your HVAC unit and save on your electric bill!

Replace Outdated Bulbs

Did you know the average home uses 40 bulbs? Switching to halogen bulbs, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, is a great way to save on your electrical bill. They offer longer-lasting light and are more energy-efficient than your old incandescent bulbs by up to 70 to 90%.  Did you know that switching just 5 lights to LED bulbs, you can save up to $75 dollars every year. Plus, LED bulbs last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs, so you can save a few trips to the store!

Don’t Wash with Hot Water

Wash with cold or warm water when possible. “A whopping 90 percent of energy used for washing clothes goes to heating the water, costing you $100 or more every year,” according to Treehugger.com. Think about how much you can save!

These five small changes will have you on your way to big savings! If you’re looking to make a more significant change, consider looking into our energy efficient vinyl windows! We’d be happy to discuss what this change could look like for your home.

Contact us today for a free quote.