Dress for the Weather
Electric bills are expensive. Most of the money we spend on utilities is paying to heat and cool the home. Don’t rely exclusively on your HVAC system to make your home comfortable during extreme temperatures. Putting on an extra layer during winter or wearing lighter, breathable materials during summer goes a long way in helping to reduce energy usage.
Manage Your Appliances
Refrigerators, freezers, washers, and dryers make our lives easier. However, they also consume a lot of energy. You can help curb their energy usage by making some adjustments on how and when they are used.
Freezers and fridges keep items colder when the appliance is full. Don’t overfill the fridge, though; this will result in a loss of airflow and have the opposite effect. Instead, keep the refrigerator well-stocked. Take note of the factory-recommended temperature setting and stick to it for the best performance.
Running clothes and dishwashers during the evening takes the strain off the power grid during peak hours and helps keep the home from overheating in warmer months. If you worry that an appliance may be too old or using up more energy than it should, replace it with an ENERGY STAR model.
Change the Lighting to Make Your Home Energy-Efficient
We all try to turn off the lights when we leave a room, but there are other options for lighting to make our homes more efficient. LED bulbs provide ample lighting in your fixtures while using less energy.
If you have access to plenty of natural light, make the most of it. Open curtains and blinds during the day to enjoy the light from outdoors. Invest in a timer for your porch and pathway lighting to make sure they are only on when necessary.
Make a More Energy-Efficient Home
Using less energy is possible without making huge changes in your daily life. Small improvements like changing the types of lightbulbs you use and washing your clothes at night will reduce the amount of energy your home consumes. The environment will thank you for it!
JVC Home Inspection offers home inspection services to Central Florida. Contact us to request an appointment.