Open curtains on sunny winter days, keep them closed in summer. Insulating curtains will help even more. Your water heater may be wasting more energy than you think, especially if it's an older model. Today's energy-efficient water heaters can quickly pay for themselves with the energy they save.
For most people, keeping the temperature set at 120 degrees provides enough hot water. To save even more, consider adding a water heater blanket, which is a layer of insulation that wraps around the hot water tank. It helps keep more heat and the heating element doesn't have to run as often. Pipes that supply hot water to faucets, showers, and appliances in your home can drain power.
Depending on how far the water has to travel, you could lose a lot of heat. Adding insulation to hot water pipes can increase water temperature by 2°F to 4°F. In addition to supplying warmer water, insulated pipes mean you don't have to run the water that long, waiting for hot water to shower. It's likely that we've all heard this advice.
However, it's worth repeating, as it's the easiest and most direct way to save on energy costs. It can feel good to keep the house warm so you don't have to warm up so much. But the U.S. Department of Energy says you could save up to 10% annually in heating costs by lowering the thermostat from 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours a day.
You can also see what credits are available in your area for solar energy and if you qualify, such as the 26% tax credit. Solar panels also have the popular benefit of allowing you to sell surplus energy to utility companies, if your local utility is involved. We've all heard that switching to Energy Star appliances can reduce our energy and water consumption by 10-50%, but not everyone has the money to replace their appliances. So, whether your rentals include utilities or not, we've created tips that both you and your tenant can start using today at a low cost or no cost.
Your refrigerator may come with different temperature settings, but some of these cooler settings aren't necessary when trying to keep food cold and safe to eat. Keep your fridge between 35 and 41°F (2-5°C) and the freezer at -0.4°F (-18°C). A little lower and you're just wasting energy. Some domestic hot water systems heat to more than 140°F (60°C), which is completely unnecessary and hot enough to seriously burn a child and adult.
Instead, set your water heater to 120°F (49°C). Typically, this will reduce water consumption by 30% and water heating bills by 30-40%. Not only will doing this reduce your water bills due to lower consumption, but your water heating bills will also decrease due to lower demand. You can save 1 to 3 percent on your bill for every degree you lower the thermostat.
But you don't have to quickly freeze your house. Worthington suggests slowly lowering the temperature to find a level you're comfortable with. You can save money on your heating bill if you lower your thermostat when you're sleeping or out and about. A programmable thermostat can do this automatically.
The Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to 10 percent per year on heating by lowering the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit from its normal setting for eight hours a day. When everyone goes to sleep, you can lower the temperature by another few degrees. You and your family will be warm under thick blankets. In the US, you can save 10% on your energy bill simply by lowering the thermostat from 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day.
It's important to save electricity in winter to lower your electricity bills, not to mention reduce your carbon footprint. The easiest way to save some money on your energy bill is to simply lower the temperature in your home. Sometimes, small lifestyle habits can surprise you at how much you've saved on your energy bill. A licensed professional can visit your home and review your utility bills for inefficiencies, point to potential improvements, and make other recommendations.
Borrowers can often obtain more favorable financing terms because lenders consider the value of utility savings. Because winter can reduce your utility budget, consider these methods to reduce costs, from starting the thermostat to lowering the water heater temperature. Lowering the water temperature by twenty degrees will save you approximately 8% on water heating each year. Utility costs may vary across the country due to variations in the price of basic services and state regulations.
It's also difficult to know where to save on your electric bill if you don't know what the largest energy sinks in your home are. An incredibly important part of making sure your home isn't wasting money in the winter is making sure your home doesn't leak air. Upgrading to a more efficient heating system can save up to 20 percent in energy costs, says Energy Star. Find out why your bills could be higher this winter and what you can do to save money in the next.
. .
