If you’ve recently looked at your utility bill and wondered how you can reduce your electricity expenditure, you are in luck! Our licensed electricians here at HedgeHog Electric have eight energy-saving tips that can help optimize your home, so your overall cost utilities are lower.
1. INVEST IN LED BULBS
It is common knowledge that incandescent light bulbs are a fairly ineffective way to light your house. Much of their energy usage goes is wasted by the heat they output, so most people use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). However, CFLs also waste energy when compared to LED bulbs.
LED light bulbs require less wattage to operate, allowing them to last longer than both incandescent bulbs and CFLs. While LED bulbs are pricier than the other two types of bulbs, the savings will be worth it over time. If you don’t want to swap all your bulbs out at once for LEDs, start with your high-traffic rooms like the kitchen and leave places like the laundry room and hall lights for last.
2. UTILIZE YOUR CEILING FAN
We spend a lot every year on heating and cooling our homes. By utilizing your ceiling fan, you can circulate the air in your home and lower your thermostat settings by 4 degrees without discomfort.
Also, your ceiling fan isn’t just for cooling off! If you flip the ceiling fan blades correctly, you can use it to force warm air back down into a room instead of having the warm air rise up and disperse.
3. INSTALL A SMART THERMOSTAT
Most of us have come home to our thermostat still on full blast, heating or cooling a house that had no one in it. Not only is this frustrating, but it is also a huge drain on your home’s electricity and is one of the significant electrical expenditures in a home.
Our electricians can install a smart thermostat which allows you to program it and save on energy. Also, many smart thermostats can be paired with a smartphone, allowing you to adjust your thermostat while you are out and about.
4. CHANGE AC FILTERS
A small housekeeping task of regularly changing out your AC filter can make the machine run better, as airflow doesn’t have to fight to escape a dirty filter. When your AC doesn’t have to work as hard, you will naturally save money.
Cheaper air filters will need to be changed monthly, while others can last about 3 months. There are also washable air filters, which you can clean and reuse, though these filters tend to less able to trap small particles such as pet dander.
5. HAVE AN ELECTRICAL INSPECTION
If you aren’t sure where your energy expenditure is coming from, you can benefit from an electrical inspection by one of our licensed electricians. Many times, faulty wiring, bad fuses, and other unsee electrical issues are the source of the issue and it takes a professional to locate the problem.
6. APPLY ENERGY-SAVING WINDOW FILM
Along with having double-paned, energy-efficient windows, you can also apply energy-saving window film. This film can be found at most home improvement stores and online, and applying it to your windows can help keep out the sun’s heat while allowing plenty of natural light in.
7. CHOOSE ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES
While you don’t need to go out and replace all of your appliances at once when you do go to buy a new home appliance, look for the Energy Star appliances. These machines will cut down on your energy expenditure significantly.
One appliance, in particular, we would recommend going the Energy Star route is your refrigerator. A more efficient fridge will greatly reduce the cost of keeping food cool, and it is one of the few appliances that are continuously running, making it ideal to replace with an efficient version.
8. ADD SOLAR PANELS TO YOUR HOME
Last but not least, you can save on energy when you add solar panels to your home. While all of Utah receives plenty of clear, bright days, our clients in Southern Utah can particularly benefit from solar panels, as the lowest part of the state generally enjoys around 300 days of sunlight.
For an electrical inspection and energy-saving specific advice for your home, be sure to contact us today!
