As this pandemic continues, we find ourselves working, eating, and living more at home than ever before. Add to that the uncertainty of these times, and it’s led many of us to look for ways to save money. We’ve put together a list of money-saving hacks to help you save money and conserve your resources while you’re spending more time at home.
Turn it off.
One of the easiest ways to save resources and money is to turn off lights and appliances when you’re not using them.
Program it and forget it.
A great way to save money is by installing a programmable thermostat. This type of thermostat can be set to automatically adjust your home’s temperature. It doesn’t make sense to heat or cool your home when you’re not there. Set your thermostat to meet your comfort needs when you are home and to lower when you are not or at night when you’re sleeping. Doing so will allow you to save on monthly energy costs.
Go on a picnic for your night out.
It’s less expensive than eating out and something you and your family (or date) will enjoy!
Make it a homemade pizza night.
Instead of ordering expensive delivered pizza, make a fun activity of building your own homemade pizzas.
Make the switch!
The rotation of your ceiling fan can be switched to provide cooling in summer and warmth in the winter and is an easy way to save on energy bills. In the summer, your fan is more efficient when it’s running clockwise. This pushes down air to the room giving a “breeze” effect which cools the skin. In the winter, reverse the fan so that it is running counterclockwise. This allows the warm heated air that naturally rises to be pushed down into the room.
Don’t get burned.
Water heaters are the second largest user of energy in your home.1 Make sure your thermostat is set to 120F. If it’s set too high you’ll run the risk of getting burned twice, once by the high temperature of your water and a second time by the higher energy costs incurred.
Get a check-up.
By getting your heating and cooling system checked by a professional technician you’ll ensure your system is operating safely and efficiently. Your technician will be able to identify small problems before they become big, expensive ones. The cost of a tune-up can save you from expensive issues down the road due to delayed maintenance.
Keep it clean and dust-free.
Make sure you check your heating and cooling system filters at least monthly and replace when dirty. Dirty filters increase your energy costs and are the number one cause of premature system failure.
Lookout for energy efficiency.
When looking to replace or upgrade your appliances look for the ENERGY STAR label. These products meet strict energy efficiency criteria, helping you reduce your utility bills while helping the environment.
Many life-hacks are simple and can be implemented easily, and in these times where we are staying in more than going out every little bit helps. To learn more helpful tips follow our monthly blogs. Rainaldi Home Services is your local Orlando HVAC and plumbing experts. Give us a call (407) 413-9795 or contact us online with any of your questions.
1 “Water Heaters.” Energy Efficient Water Heaters | ENERGY STAR, www.energystar.gov/products/water_heaters.