Summer means rising temperatures, bright sunshine and fun for the whole family. But, it also can mean increased utility bills since people tend to use electricity and water more during those long, summer days. How can you avoid having to shell out extra cash? Lower your monthly utility bills this summer with these tips:
Start with the “low hanging fruit.”
When you think of home energy efficiency, your mind may wander to LED light bulbs. Although switching your standard light bulbs to LED lights is not a major change, it has a huge payoff! Switching your lights can help you cut back on energy by between 50-80%, and the best part is this is an inexpensive and quick project that everybody can tackle on their own.
Collect rainwater.
The weather tends to get a bit wetter during the summer, so why not take advantage of this excess water and use it as an opportunity to cut back on your utility bills? Head to your local hardware store and buy a rainwater barrel, or if you have any large plastic or wood container around, you can use that instead of buying one. Place the rainwater barrel at the end of your gutter downspout and wait for the next storm. When rainwater flows through the gutter, it will pour directly into your barrel instead of being wasted on overwatered soil or plants. You can use the water from the barrel to water your plants or wash your pets!
Install a power strip.
Appliances and technological devices can waste a ton of energy—even when they’re not in use. In fact, these devices and appliances can waste energy even when they are completely turned off as long as they are still plugged into an electrical outlet. To significantly cut back on your energy usage, install a power strip and connect as many devices to it as possible. When you leave the room or go to work for the day, switch off the entire power strip so you don’t have to unplug every single item. This will save you time and make sure you’re putting an end to wasted energy in your home.
Make smart laundry choices.
As you’re doing laundry this summer, make sure you are making energy efficient choices to cut back on your utility bills. For starters, try washing your clothes only in cold water. Washing clothes in hot water requires you use your hot water heater, an appliance which accounts for about 14% of your entire power bill. Cut back on how much you use it by making this simple switch, and you’ll see big savings on your next bill.
Install a window film.
If you don’t like the look of blinds or drapes, but want to prevent the sun from heating up your home, consider installing a window film on all of your windows. These thin films will block the heat from coming into your home, so you won’t have to crank down the air conditioner to stay comfortable. Plus unlike drapes and blinds, window films still allow you to enjoy the beautiful view of your backyard while being energy efficient.
Follow these five steps, and this summer, you can focus more on having fun and less on paying that stack of utility bills!
