Today, saving energy has never been easier or more important. It seems like most of us are invested in the practice of trying to use less energy not only to benefit the environment but also to benefit our pocketbooks. Saving energy has become synonymous with saving money. By implementing a few easy tips your home or business can run more efficiently which saves energy and in turn will save you money.
An Efficient Home Saves Energy and Money
Go green by saving energy and money.
A key component in saving money and energy is efficiency. There are many elements that add up to your home running as efficiently as possible and most revolve around simply keeping up on maintenance. This can be overwhelming, but by being organized you can simplify this process. An easy step in the simplification of making sure you are keeping up with maintenance is by implementing a calendar system that will have important maintenance reminders. A calendar like this one will be monumentally helpful in providing both a reminder, and a point of reference to guide you through necessary maintenance.
Having your maintenance scheduled in a calendar can alert you to maintenance that is easily overlooked. When maintenance is overlooked it creates more energy to be used, and money to be wasted. Some common maintenance you should add to your calendar to both save you energy and money include:
Furnace: The efficiency of your furnace is a huge component in the savings you will see in your energy bill. One important tip is changing the filter every three months. This will both make the air in your home cleaner, and also promote the efficiency of your furnace because the airflow will not be restricted. A dirty air filter wastes energy for the dirt trapped in the filter blocks the proper air circulation from occurring.
Along with changing your filter, another scheduled maintenance you should add to your calendar is the cleaning of your ducts. This should be done annually and only by a professional. There are a few different methods that different businesses use to do this, but it is important to note that using a company that both uses brushes and an industrial vacuum system is recommended. Also, if you have an old furnace upgrading to an energy efficient furnace will cost you money upfront, but save you money in the long run.
Thermostat: Your thermostat goes hand and hand with your furnace, and setting it to the proper temperature can save a tremendous amount of both energy and money. Today, this is more manageable than ever for technology has allotted the ability to control your thermostat remotely, from your phone, tablet or computer. If you do not have this capability, setting your thermostat on a timer is also an effective way to manage both money and energy. For example, you may want to program it around your work so it is not cooling or heating your house in excess when you are not there.
Water Heater: Water heaters are commonly overlooked and can run more efficiently simply by maintaining a few key components. The most important component is simply flushing out the water in your water heater. This is easily done by hooking up a hose and draining out all the water. This will make your water heater run much more efficiently, and should be added to your calendar at a bi-annually period. Also, simply adjusting your water heater temperature can save you money, for you may not need your water heater turned as high as you may think. Finally, investing in a newer water heater may prove wise as they are much more energy efficient.
Washer/Dryer: Along with being exceptionally dangerous clothes dryers are also exceptionally inefficient when not maintained properly. Cleaning your dryer is more than just clearing the lint trap. Obviously, this is important but what also needs to happen is the cleaning of vent, which can be done by simply buying an attachment that hooks to your vacuum and cleaning the vent from the outside of your home. This should be done every two months, and will make your dryer much more efficient which will dry your clothes faster saving both time and money.
Washing your clothes in cold water will help you save money and energy. There are also detergents specifically for cold water, if you are worried that your clothes are not getting as clean as they would in warm water. Newer washing machines are also incredibly energy efficient and use much less water which all adds up to savings.
Seasonal Maintenance
As seasons change different home maintenance projects are needed. As heat or cool air escape from you home so too is money and energy. If you live in a cold climate this is most imperative as winter approaches. An easy way to remedy this is by plastic wrapping your windows. Plastic wrapping kits can be found at any hardware store, and are exceptionally cost effective. Weather stripping of doors and windows is a great way to help lock in warm, or cool air, depending on the season and climate to eliminate drafts. These are great preventive measures that will help save money and energy especially if your doors and windows are older.
A final tip to save both money and time is by having a professional come out and asses your home. This will allow for an expert perspective and give you the guidance you may need to most effectively save money and energy. Whether you enlist the help of a professional or tackle these projects on your own, you will see that by implementing some simple maintenance your home will run more efficiently therefore saving energy, and money.
