Aesthete Designs, LLC 111 East Main St, Brownsburg, IN | Residential & Light Commercial Interior Design | Your Vision, Our Passion | 317-286-3521
Energy Savings That Won’t Break the Bank
Want to keep more of your own money at the end of the month instead of paying it out to utility companies? Sure, that seems like a simple enough question. With so much information out there, though, it is hard to figure out where to start the energy savings process. Taking small steps makes it easier to begin as well as easier to pay for.
A Bright Idea
Switch out light bulbs. A general rule of thumb is a buck a watt per year. So, if you are running a 100 watt light bulb, it is costing you $100 per year. Change the incandescent bulb for a compact fluorescent, and spend only $26 a year. That is close to a 75% percent savings for a single light bulb. Now add up all the lights in the house that can be replaced – even more money in your pocket.
Shut It Off
It seems simple, and it is. It is also the least expensive way to save energy and money. Shut off lights or other energy using appliances when you aren’t in the room. Your newly decorated room might be a wonder to behold, but if you aren’t actually in the room, the lights don’t need to be on.
Banish the Vampires
Vampires are the things that use little amounts of energy all the time. Think clocks, coffee makers, toasters and microwaves. While it isn’t practical to unplug your alarm clock when it’s not in use, consider unplugging the coffeepot. Even if the coffee maker is not turned on, it is pulling electricity to it. Only by removing the socket from the outlet truly turns it off. Some reports indicate that up to 6% of all electricity used in a home is from vampires. It may not seem like much but it all adds up.
Schedule Heating and Cooling
Install a programmable thermostat. This type of thermostat lets you control the heating and cooling for the house, even while you are not home. This can be as much as a 15% savings than by using a standard thermostat. Sometimes utility companies offer rebates and incentives for purchase and installation of a programmable thermostat, saving you even more money.
By starting small you can actually realize good energy savings.
Your Turn: What energy-saving rituals do you practice around your home to keep costs down? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook fan page.
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