Saving Energy
Your appliances, equipment, lighting, and habits can also play a big role in your home’s energy efficiency. Upgrading to newer technology, even if it is a bit more expensive up front, can provide big savings on electricity usage and routine maintenance. Check out these low or no cost options to save energy at home, or scroll down for more ideas.
LED lightbulbs last 50x as long as incandescent light bulbs, and 5x as long as fluorescents. They are also brighter, cheaper, and use less electricity to run.
Smart thermostats, which allow you to control your home’s temperature remotely or “set and forget” a schedule, can lead to huge savings and also increase your comfort. Some utilities offer rebates to purchase and install smart thermostats–check out EnergyStar’s rebate finder here.
Plugged-in electronics are always using energy, even if they are off. Smart power strips cut power to devices in “standby mode” and reduce this “vampire load”, saving you on your electricity bill. Learn more here.
When shopping for products, look for the ENERGY STAR seal to make sure you aren’t inviting extra energy or water bills into your home. Watch this video for a short explainer.
