Let us find out how to monitor and reduce the heating and cooling cost. There are many ways to reduce the energy utilization even when using larger appliances. Small steps lead to great saving of energy and money every day.
Checking on the energy consumption of appliances at house will help in updating and replacing major heating or cooling systems. Buying new appliance seems like a huge investment but it saves money over the years with less consumption of energy.
1) Sealing and insulating the home is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a home more comfortable and energy-efficient. A tightly sealed home can improve comfort and indoor air quality and also reduces utility bills.
2) Take the advantage of heat from sun for cutting down energy consumption. Open the shades on the southern and eastern windows during the day and Close the shades when the sun goes down to keep the heat from escaping.
3) Installing a programmable thermostat helps in lowering the thermostat during periods when no one is at home.
4) Larger appliances such as washing machine, dishwashers and refrigerators use more energy. Replacing old and run down appliances is always a good investment. Look for Energy star label when shopping for new appliances.
5) While washing clothes – energy consumption can be reduced by using less water or by using cooler water. Washing clothes in cold water will reduce energy needed to heat the water.
6) Be conscious positioning the appliance at right place. For example, Refrigerators and freezers should not be placed near the stove,dishwasher or heat vents, or even exposed to direct sunlight. Exposure to warm areas will force refrigerator to use more energy to remain cool.
7) Set the refrigerator temperature to as recommended by manufacturerto avoid excessive cooling and wasting energy.
8) Computers should be shut off when not in use. Switch of the computer monitor during when not in use for longer period. The monitor uses more system energy and there is no need to leave it on entire night if it not used. Laptop consumes considerably less electricity than desktop computers.
9) Use new lighting technologies such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), which can reduce the energy. CFLs use very less energy and last about 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. LEDs last longer than CFLs and consume less
energy. Turn off the lights whenever there isn’t anyone in the room.
10) Unplug the battery charges when not in use. Charger of cell phones, laptops and other wireless devices use lot of energy even when they aren’t charging the devices.
11) Change filters and perform routine maintenance of the furnace. Install high efficiency furnace. Install energy efficient windows and doors.
12) Seal all window edges and cracks. Repair any damages such has cracked glass, missing putty, poorly fitting sashes or damaged wood. Replace single-pane windows with more energy efficient windows; or add solar shades or tinting film on the windows of your home.
13) Don't open the oven too often when using it. Every time the oven is opened, the temperature drops, making oven use more energy to bring the temperature back up.
14) Turning off the oven a few minutes before cooking time runs out will help in saving some energy consumption as the food will continue to cook in the heat inside the oven.
15) Using dishwashers and clothes washers at night will keep the house cooler; reduce strain on the power grid during the peak usage time between 4 pm to 6 pm.