Have you ever opened up an electric bill after the first month of summer or winter passes and were shocked to see how much the bill increased in such a short time? You aren’t alone. As energy efficiency becomes more commonly talked about and implemented in households, more homeowners are catching on to its appeal. It might seem daunting, but transitioning your dwelling into an energy-efficient home can be done with a few simple steps. We have gathered some of the most useful tips to help lower those utility bills.
1. Get creative with holiday decorations and lights.
It’s no surprise that homeowners’ electric bills skyrocket during the holiday season due to all the outdoor, as well as indoor, decorations and lights. There are several ways to cut these costs by taking a different approach to decorating this year. Rather than stringing hundreds of lights on the tree, you could opt for handmade ornaments to help cut the cost of electricity.
There are several unique Christmas decorations that can replace costly lights and electronic options, such as customized tree balls, wreaths, and garlands. This is also a great way to get the family involved in coming up with innovative holiday DIY decorations. Not only will your home be decorated with items to boost holiday cheer, but the DIY approach will surely help cut those utility costs and increase the energy efficiency of your home during winter.
2. Install a ductless AC and heating system in your home
You may be unfamiliar with this approach, but it’s one of the latest and most innovative ways to boost the energy efficiency of your home. There are multiple ductless options for heating and air conditioning, which use indoor and outdoor units to adjust the temperature of certain areas in your home. These energy-efficient systems are simple to install and offer an affordable solution for heating and cooling.
With a quiet operation in both single-zone and multi-zone systems, these ductless systems can either control the temperature in one area of your home or can control the temperature in multiple rooms depending on the system used. There are a number of reasons homeowners might opt for this type of system versus regular central air conditioning and heating systems.
3. Install window treatments
This is one of the easiest and most affordable options to increase the energy efficiency of your home. You would be surprised how much your utility bills will decrease with the simple addition of blinds, shades, and films on your windows. Having energy-efficient windows helps of course, but if you aren’t in the market for buying new windows for your home, this is a great alternative in the meantime.
According to Energy Saver, about one-third of a dwelling’s heat is lost through its windows. In the winter, about three-quarters of sunlight that comes through windows enters to become heat. A majority of window treatments will result in energy savings, but there are other factors involved including the type of attachment used and the climate of the area you live in.
4. Set the thermostat
If you have a smart thermostat in your home, this is something you are probably familiar with due to the customization allowed in those innovative and modern pieces of equipment. If you have a regular thermostat, it’s still possible to increase energy savings in your home by setting the thermostat to a higher setting when you are not at home. This can help reduce your energy costs by approximately 10 percent, which might not seem like a lot, but you are sure to notice the change on your upcoming utility bills.
