The world’s currently experiencing an unprecedented cost of living crisis. The primary reason for the ongoing crisis is the soaring costs of energy bills. There are many reasons why energy prices are rising, but to most people, they are beside the point. The most important thing in most people’s lives is bringing down the cost of their energy, not investigating underlying economic causes for rising prices.
Despite what many people seem to think, you don’t have to turn your heating off or avoid using hot water to bring down your energy bills. This post will tell you how you can be more cost-efficient with your energy needs, without negatively impacting your lifestyle:
Modern Furnace
If you want to increase your home’s energy efficiency, then it’s a very good idea to invest in a modern, newly made furnace. Modern furnaces can provide significant energy savings, allowing you to cut down exponentially on your bills. The reason that newly made furnaces are more energy-efficient is that they are better constructed, with variable-speed fans and sealed combustion. Before buying a furnace, it’s very important to read the manufacturer’s reviews online.
This is so that you can get an idea of how the furnace works, straight from the mouth of customers that have bought it. If a company’s reviews are bad across the board, then it’s best to avoid them.
Also, by prioritizing regular maintenance for your furnace, you can maximize its efficiency and longevity while minimizing unnecessary expenses. Professional technicians understand the intricacies of furnaces and perform thorough inspections, cleaning, and tune-ups to ensure optimal performance. When it comes to managing your energy needs, furnace maintenance in Edmonton offers a highly cost-efficient solution.
Washing Clothes
One effective way of cutting down on your energy bills is to wash your clothes in cold water. You don’t necessarily need hot water to wash your clothes, as long as you have specially designed bio detergent for cold water washes. This type of bio detergent does tend to cost a little bit more than traditional bio detergent does, but it is much more effective and will work in cold water washes. You don’t have to use your washing machine, either. If you really want to be energy efficient, then why not wash your clothes by hand in your bathtub or sink?
Air Sealing
You can save up to 10% on home heating and cooling costs by sealing any cracks, leaks, and gaps in your home’s walls, doors, and windows. Additionally, adding insulation can help you to keep your house cooler or warmer. Most houses have insulation, but if yours is an especially old house, then the insulation that you have might not be very effective. Replacing your home’s insulation and air sealing can save you a lot of money on energy costs. The cost of re-insulating your house can be very expensive, but it is usually possible to arrange payment plans. You can likely fill in and seal cracks by yourself, however.
Daily Electronics
If you want to save money on energy costs, then cut down on unnecessary electronic use during the daytime. It’s very common for people to unnecessarily leave things running in their homes, such as their computer, Wi-Fi router, or television. If you aren’t using something then turn it off. It is also important that you turn off the lights in your home when you aren’t using them. You may also want to consider switching to LED bulbs. LED bulbs are a lot more cost-efficient and can save you a lot of money. LED bulbs are also cheaper to purchase than ordinary ones are.
Thermostat Adjustment
You may also want to consider adjusting your thermostat. Setting it to 78F in the winter and 68F in the summer can save you a lot of money on energy costs. Setting it at these levels can also save you a lot of money. Every extra degree after them can increase your home’s energy usage by up to 8%. With that said, if you want your home colder then you can turn it down even lower. Turning your thermostat down lower will of course save you a lot of money.
If you have children or pets in the house, however, then you do need to think about their comfort when you are adjusting your thermostat.
Night-time Washing
One last thing that’s worth thinking about is using your dishwasher, washing machine, and clothes dryer at night. The reason for this is that by doing these things at night, you will reduce the strain on the power grid during peak hours. Operating these machines can also increase your home’s temperature. The night is the coolest time of the day, so by doing these things at night, you will be able to increase your home’s temperature without adjusting the thermostat.
Energy efficiency is more relevant than ever before. Energy costs are up by 70% in some places. With inflation and job shortages, higher energy costs are seriously impacting people’s lives. Incorporating this post’s guidance into your energy-saving strategy will aid you in cutting down on costs.