Smart Utility Usage to Conserve Energy and Money

Here are a couple of things you could do to help conserve energy and avoid costly repairs at home. Regular maintenance inside your home wouldn’t hurt right? In fact, it saves you more time and money than you think. Here are some checklists to start with.

Check hot water heater's thermostat

It is suggested to set it to 120 degrees, that's according to Andy Farmer, education resources manager for Virginia Energy Sense. According to an article for electric energy efficiency and conservation. "The default manufacturer setting for many water heaters is 140 degrees Fahrenheit,". "However, 120 degrees is typically sufficient for your water heating needs all year round, according to the Department of Energy."

Look for – and fix – leaks.

You should regularly look for leaks in faucets, toilets and pipes. Another place to check is the roof. One of the easiest method to check for leaks is to check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. Then if the meter changes at all, there's probably a leak somewhere that you should look for.

Cook with something smaller than the oven

You bought your stove for a reason. Still, it's probably not a bad thing to be aware that any time you use a toaster oven, electric skillet, slow cooker or microwave, you use less energy.

Minimize the use of your appliances in the evening

Especially on a hot day. Why you might ask? Because these appliances produce heat, which means more work for your air conditioning system. Not to mention saving on your electric bill isn't so bad right?

Replace those filters

Hopefully you're already doing this since clogged air filters often lead to air-conditioning units and other items breaking down. An unchanged air filter also causes your air condition unit, dryer or furnace to work  harder and run longer, which means more energy consumption.

Turn off the ceiling fan

Make sure to turn off those ceiling fans when you're not home. They don't actually cool your home, all it does it to help the air circulate to make you feel cooler. So save energy and turn it off when you're away.

Speaking of fans

Instead of constantly consuming more energy by using air conditioner, try an electric fan. Even if you run them longer than your AC, they consume less electricity.

And also, when cleaning the fridge

Do some dusting, when the coils underneath or behind the refrigerator are covered with dust, the appliance is working harder, and costing you more money.