We all have them. We all hate them. Unless you live in an apartment that pays every type of utility, then you worry about your energy bills. No matter you do, they always seem to be higher than you want them to be. You bark at your kids to turn off lights in the other room, you hustle people through the door in the winter and the summer so the heat and AC doesn’t go flying out of the house. While turning off lights and shutting doors are a good way to save energy, here are some ways you can reduce your energy bill each month. (Less barking involved.)
Seal your window and door gaps
It’s all very well to whisk your family inside each time they use the door, but did you know that your doors and windows are losing ten times as much energy, just by being there, every week? Your doors and windows have small gaps that let out AC, and let out heat, when you don’t want them to. A simple solution to this problem is to test for leaks by traveling around your house with an incense stick. If the smoke is drawn outside, so is your air.
Once you’ve identified the gaps, you can set to work sealing them. Caulk, bronze weather stripping, and plastic are all available at your local hardware store, each of which is equipped to seal your pesky window gaps.
Get better blinds
You may not realize how much energy is being lost through exposed windows every month. For instance, if you live in Australia, the glare of the sun is heating the interior of your home, sending your energy bills up every month. A hot house takes more AC to cool, and the sun is literally fighting you over the temperature in your house. That can be remedied by buying Roman blinds online, reducing the glare of the sun and lowering your energy costs.
Get new appliances
It’s something most of us would never think about, but older appliances cost more in electricity. Newer models are designed to be energy efficient, but if you think you’re being thrifty by keeping your ancient oven, it might be time to upgrade. Newer ovens and dishwashers and refrigerators all have energy-saving designs, when compared to older models, and a new kitchen appliance could save you hundred of future dollars. We tend to think of heat and AC costing us the most money, but remember that you have a fridge plugged in and running 100% of the time.
Thankfully, getting new appliances is less of a hassle than it used to be. Considering that you could head to any major brand’s website, browse their selection, and make a purchase all from your living room, the process has definitely gotten easier.
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