From the moment you wake up and turn on the shower, to the moment you turn out the lights and go to bed, you consume energy. Leaving the faucet running while you brush your teeth, leaving the lights on when you’re not even in the room — little by little, these energy-inefficient actions add up, especially if they are part of your daily routine. And by “add up,” we’re referring to the cost of your energy bills. Most of us don’t even think about wasted energy when we are doing mindless, mundane tasks. But it’s something we can all be conscious of moving forward. You can take action and start reducing your energy loss today with these helpful pointers.
Turn Down Your Amount of Wasted Energy
One of the biggest, sneakiest culprits of energy loss is leaving devices plugged in when not in use. Did you know that devices still draw energy even when they are turned off? Before you head out on vacation this summer, make sure you unplug unused devices. Computers, TVs, and modems don’t need to use your energy while you’re away from home for a long time. Unplug them to shave costs off your energy bills.
Get Smart With Your Devices
Speaking of different electronics, are you using a power strip to keep them central to one other? What about a smart power strip? This energy-efficient device works by turning off power to ancillary devices once a main electronic device is turned off. For example, when you shut off your TV, then your cable box, gaming console, and speakers will follow suit and power down, too. This is an easy and excellent way to cut down on wasted energy. When you get your no-cost home energy assessment from Wattson Home Solutions, smart power strips are provided to you at no additional cost to help manage your energy-wasting devices.
Catch That Running Faucet
We all know that running the faucet while brushing our teeth is wasteful. And we all know that turning off the water while we brush is a quick win for reducing energy waste. One thing that is less commonly known is that running water via our dishwashers can be an even bigger source of water waste. Not having to worry about washing dishes by hand is a luxury; it’s easy to take this for granted and run the dishwasher for small loads that don’t fill a machine’s capacity. By only running the dishwasher when it is full, you can greatly cut down on our overall energy consumption. The same goes for your washing machine. Using bigger machines more efficiently can save you a lot of money month over month.
Fresh Air (Filter)
Changing your air conditioner’s filters can be an easily forgotten chore — out of sight, out of mind, right? But it’s key to remember to change your filters during the summer months, especially if you’re running your air conditioner everyday. The amount of dust and debris that collects in a filter can be disgusting and downright unhealthy to have circulating through your home. Not only that, but your AC might have to work harder to pump cool air past that dirty filter. Keeping an eye on this seemingly small chore will ensure that your air conditioner continues to work properly, which means that you can enjoy it to the fullest.
Ex-Seal-lent Home Savings
While we’ve talked about big and sneaky culprits of energy loss, air leaking deserves a spot close to the top. In the summer, we want the cool air inside, and the hot air outside. In the winter, we want the exact opposite. The key to this comfort is an airtight home. By having proper insulation and sealed windows and doors, you can prevent major unnoticed energy loss.
The best part about following all these tips is that you don’t have to do them alone. Wattson Home Solutions can perform a home energy assessment and help you down the path to an energy-efficient home. Wattson Home Solutions is a MassSave partner, who is associated with companies such as EnergyStar and Honeywell. Getting your no-cost home energy assessment is as easy as requesting your free consultation. Sign up today to start saving!
