Utility bills are a significant monthly expenses for every household and it seems as if the costs just keep getting higher and higher as wages remain in the same place. Fortunately, there are some simple energy saving strategies that you can use that will lower your utility bills by a considerable amount almost immediately. Implementing these strategies has the potential to save you hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs. Here are some of the easiest energy saving strategies to implement in your home.
Wash Clothes In Cold Water
One of the simplest energy saving strategies is to wash your clothes in cold water. Cold-water washing ensures that you do not waste valuable energy heating up dozens of gallons of water for washing and rinsing your clothing. Most clothes can be washed in cold water without any ill effects to the clothing and several detergent makers sell detergents that are made especially for cold-water loads that leave your clothes just as clean as if you would have used hot water to wash them. Make sure you are washing full loads each time so you are not wasting water.
Use Power Strips To Turn Off Electronics
Most people have multiple electronics in their home that all interact together and are typically used together. For example, one area of my home has a television, a cable box, a sound bar with speakers, a DVD/VCR combo player, and a video game system that are all plugged into power strips so they can be used at will. Having them plugged into a power strip allows me to turn them all off completely with a single flip of a switch, saving energy when I am not using them. Electronics that are plugged directly into the wall can still suck energy, even when they are turned off, to power secondary features that you may not even be aware of.
Use A Programmable Thermostat
Using a programmable thermostat is one of the most effective energy saving strategies. It is estimated that the average household will spend nearly $1,000 heating their home to a comfortable temperature this winter. Much of this heating cost will be incurred by the furnace working to maintain the heat in the home while the homeowners are not even there (away at work, running errands, etc.). Installing a programmable thermostat will help you control the temperature more effectively both when you are home and when you are away from home. Lowering the temperature of your home by 15 degrees 8 hours a day could reduce your energy usage by around 15 percent.