Top Tips for Saving Money on Energy: Common Mistakes and Easy Application

Top Tips for Saving Money on Energy: Common Mistakes and Easy Application

Excessive energy usage not only costs you a lot of money, but it also uses up valuable natural resources and contributes to an overall negative impact on the environment. Finding ways to reduce your energy consumption can help you to save money and to save the environment.

There are dozens of things you can do to cut back your energy consumption. Here are the most practical of the many ways you can cut back your energy usage and save money on your energy costs:

• Turn off appliances and electronic equipment when they are not in use. Common culprits include the radio or TV, which may play in the background, even if you aren’t watching or listening.
• Unplug appliances and equipment when they are not in use. They will continue to draw energy even by being plugged in.
• Turn off the lights when you leave the room.
• Install compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) throughout your home.
• Wash dishes by hand.
• Hang clothes on the clothes line instead of putting them in the dryer.
• Keep the air vents and dryer vents in your home free of lint and other debris.
• Keep the temperature at the lowest setting possible in the winter and the highest setting possible in the summer.
• Use a programmable thermostat to keep the temperature steady.
• Take a shower instead of a bath. You’ll use less water, which means you’ll also need to use less energy to heat it.
• Install energy-efficient appliances.
• Replace your windows with energy-efficient models.
• Seal off cracks and other sources of draft around your home.
• Insulate your attic, garage, crawl space and other unfinished spaces.
• Replace your insulation with more energy-efficient materials.
• Plant shade trees around your house. They will keep it cooler in the summer, but the leaves will fall in the winter, allowing more sun through for warming.
• Buy a front-loading washer. They use less water and are more energy-efficient.
• Get an energy audit of your home. You can identify sources of energy leaks and then correct them.

There are many other ways to save money on your home energy costs, depending on what type of home you have, what type of appliances you use, your personal habits, and more. The key is to find little ways to save, which can add up to big savings. Use these tips to help you find ways to be more energy-efficient in your home, and consult with a professional who can give you tailored feedback for your home and provide you with even more ways to save. You’ll use fewer resources, and you’ll save a lot of money every month and over the course of the year.

What other strategies do you use for saving money on energy costs in your home? Share your best tips in the comments!

About the Author:

Sara Morrin is a co-founder of a free-to-use calculator app, where people can figure out their financial limits, even for leasing cars, with quick and dynamic updating functions.