Energy Efficiency Tips That Save You Money

Working as the Program Coordinator for an energy assistance non-profit has opened my eyes to the importance of energy efficiency for both social and environmental reasons. Having heat and electricity in our homes is something that many of us take for granted, and honestly don’t give it a second thought. However, for many people across the world, paying for your energy bill gets pushed aside so that they can afford basic necessities like food and rent. Luckily, there are many affordable or free ways to cut back on your energy use at home, therefore reducing your utility bill! 

On top of being a huge social issue that nobody talks about, wasting energy is a huge environmental concern. Most of the electricity generated in the United States is from thermal power plants, which typically run on fossil fuels or nuclear fuel. Residential households account for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions produced in the US each year, which shows how large of an impact we can have as individuals. This means that choosing to practice energy efficiency in your home or business reduces the amount of greenhouse gas in our atmosphere, and helps us to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels! 

There are so many ways that we can reduce our energy consumption on an individual level, and the best part is that it usually saves you money! We obviously need to use energy to get through our daily functions and for businesses to operate, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be conscious of the effects of our use. Even if you are only able to realistically implement a few of these changes into your life, you will still be saving energy and money no matter what you do.

Energy cost quick facts

• The typical U.S. family spends at least $2,000 a year on home utility bills. (Energy Star)

• The average American household pays $111.67 for electricity per month. (Finance Guru)

• 1 in 5 American households sacrifice food, rent, or medicine to pay for energy. (Energy Information Administration)

• Nearly 39 million American households – or 1 in 3 – struggle to pay for electricity each year. (Oregon Energy Fund)

I highly recommend watching this TED talk by James Brew. He outlines the issues and the steps we can take in such a concise, humorous and accessible way. If you have 12 minutes to spare, this is a must watch!

Unplug appliances not in use

• Make it a habit to scan the room for anything you can unplug before leaving, like chargers, appliances, etc. Electronics consume a large amount of energy, even when they’re turned off or done charging. Plus, you eliminate the fire hazard risk that plugged-in cords have.

• If you have a lot of things that you plug in throughout the day, consider using a smart power strip to cut down on phantom loads (the energy used when an appliance is plugged in but not in use). That way, you can turn everything off and on at once. Just unplug the strip when not in use.

• On a similar note, turning off lights in your home is an easy way to save electricity. You can also switch your light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s). “If one incandescent lightbulb was replaced with a CFL bulb in every American home, it would save enough electricity in a year to power 3 million homes, which would reduce annual emissions by the equivalent of taking 800,000 cars off the road” (Energy Sage). Investing in CFL bulbs saves you money, and it also helps us reduce our use of mercury-filled incandescent lightbulbs.

Weatherize your home

• Windows and doors: A home loses about 30% of its heat through its windows (energy.gov).One thing you can do to combat this is install curtains or window shades. Keep them closed at night to help with insulation. During the day, turn down the thermostat and open the curtains to allow the sun to naturally heat the room.

• Stop air leaks: The first project that you can do is caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows that leak air. You can find instructions on how to test this online, or you can have someone come to your home and perform an energy audit. Adding insulation to your attic, including the attic trap or access door, is another cost-effective weatherization step you can take (DOE).

• Many local organizations offer weatherization and energy conservation programs to help make your home more energy efficient and reduce your electric bill. These programs will teach you how to seal your windows and doors to avoid cold-air leaks, DIY insulation tips, and furnace and water heater upkeep. A simple Google search should find you resources, or you can always reach out to me and I will try to find you resources!

Conscious temperature control

• During cold weather, the cost of heating your home increases by 3% for every degree over 68 (SLECA). A good rule of thumb is to set your thermostat to 68 degrees when you’re at home and lower it by around 10 degrees when you’re not home or asleep. 

• Heating systems have to work harder when they are dirty, which causes an unnecessary amount of energy to be used. If you have baseboard heaters, keep the surface and coils free of dust. If you have central heating, wipe out the vents and make sure they’re open.

• Ceiling fans are a cheap way to stay cool in the summer, and they can also keep you warm in the colder months! Something I didn’t find out until I was an adult is that by reversing your fan to spin clockwise, the fan pushes warm air down. This helps to keep your living space at a comfortable temperature year-round.  

• 90% of the energy used by a washing machine goes toward heating the water, so running your cycle on cold saves a lot of energy. You can save money by using less hot water, turning down the thermostat on your water heater, insulating your water heater, or buying a newer and more efficient model.

Invest in energy efficiency

• Buy energy efficient appliances and materials when weatherizing your home. Products with an Energy Star label have been tested and proven to meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. There are so many options on the market right now, so it is definitely becoming more and more accessible to all.

• You can use trees planted in strategic areas around your home to control cooling and heat effects throughout the year! The internet has so many resources about doing this based on your location.

• Switching to CFL bulbs also offers environmental benefits in reduced mercury emissions, combatting a growing concern in both freshwater and marine habitats. (Energy Sage) CFLs contain a small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing, and must be recycled. Many retailers offer free recycling services, and some municipalities have special recycling programs.

Other energy efficiency tips

• Air dry your dishes and laundry when possible.
• Encourage your place of work to turn their heating off on the weekends.
• Use your fireplace for heat, if you have one.
• Use any appliance’s eco-mode.

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Have you implemeted any of these practices or weatherization methods in your own household? If you have any more tips, please leave them in the comment section so that this can serve as a growing resource for others to refer back to!