Yesterday was National Cut Your Energy Costs Day. It was established by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance. Celebrated annually, it is designed to bring awareness to energy waste in businesses and homes. According to the mortgage company Freddie Mac, an average U.S. family spends $2,200 per year on energy bills. Cutting your energy waste helps you save money. Find a few suggestions below of changes you can make in your home to save more money in the long run:
- Buy a programmable thermostat.
- Switch to LED lights. They might cost twice as much as CFL bulbs, but they last three times longer.
- Check that your appliances are energy efficient or choose energy efficient when you buy new/used appliances.
- Consider houseplants. They help reduce energy waste via transpiration.(1)
- Every 3 months, check your appliances for dust build-up. Clean if necessary. This helps the unit perform efficiently.
- Kill phantom energy loads (aka “vampire/ghost power” or “standby power”) by unplugging certain electronics/appliances when they are not in use. An estimated 5-10% of residential energy is used for standby power.(1) Visit this Green Groundswell article to learn which electronics consume standby power.
