Energy Saving Tips for Real Life

The year is young. It’s a great time to set some resolutions in your home that not only help the planet, but save you a load of money in the long run. We’d all love to set up our home with a bunch of solar panels and all new energy efficient appliances. But real life and real budgets often prevent us from jumping into major changes all at once. There ARE plenty of things you can do every day that will, over time, make a big impact on the environment and your wallet.

• Washing clothes in cold water and avoiding the sterilization cycle on your dishwasher are both ways to keep your water heater from doing unnecessary work. While you’re at it, check its thermostat. Turn it down to 130 degrees, and make a minor investment in a specially designed blanket to retain heat.
• Your thermostat is another energy offender. Even if you can’t invest in a “smart” thermostat, a programmable one is very affordable and will allow you to customize the temps in your home for times that you’re asleep or away.
• Windows and doors are major leaks of energy and cash. They can be expensive to replace though. If you have drafty cracks, seal them up with weatherstripping. Single pane and older windows may need an extra layer of weatherproofing plastic in the winter to keep them better insulated.
• Do an audit for water wasters in your home. Leaky faucets may seem benign enough, but over time, they waste gallons of water and increase your utility bills. If leaks can’t be fixed and you have to replace faucets or shower heads, choose models with low-flow features and water saving filters.
• Keep common sense savers in mind. Turning off lights when you leave a room and turning off the faucet while not in use are simple things that we can do on a daily basis. Even little things like these can make a big difference over time!