Go Green to Save Green – 6 Tips
Whenever the New Year approaches, it’s the time when most people set goals for themselves in hopes of becoming the happier, healthier, and wealthier person they’ve always strived to become.
New Year’s resolutions can often involve losing weight, finding love, or acquiring that dream job. But one of New Era Debt Solutions’ favorite resolutions kills two birds with one stone – saving on energy costs, which can ultimately lead to extra savings for your wallet. We reveal 6 ways you can save $400 or more on your electric bill each year by reducing energy use:
1. Get Audited
With the help of utility companies that offer free home energy audits or by conducting one yourself, you can get an idea of which areas of your home are taking up the most energy. You can also determine how much of your expenses are coming from lighting, hot water, and appliance use.
2. A Bright Idea
Switching your light bulbs with LED bulbs will use 90% less energy than regular bulbs. The Washington Post provides even more interesting numbers: The average homeowner uses about 40 lightbulbs, each costing about 13 cents per kilowatt hour. If you trade out these 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 11-watt LED lighting (they provide the same amount of light), using your lights for up to five hours each day, you can save $600 annually thanks to LEDs.
But whenever possible, use natural lighting. You’d be amazed how much money and electricity you can conserve by swapping your bulbs with natural sunlight for a few hours.
3. Turn It Off
It’s both a smart and a safe move to turn off and unplug any electronics you’re not using. Switch off your lights, TV, computer, and air conditioning when they’re not in use. After all, standby power comprises of at least 10% of your electricity bill.
4. Reduce Your Loads
Instead of running the washer five times a week, reduce your laundry load by one. In fact, see if you can increase the amount of clothing you put into individual loads so you can make the most of each wash cycle. Also, don’t forget to wash your laundry with cold water, as hot water takes up a substantial amount of your energy bill. If you really want to step it up, opt to hang your washed clothes instead of using the dryer.
5. Avoid Peak Hours
Some cities offer less expensive electric rates if you use your appliances outside of peak hours. Check to see what hours are cheaper for running your dishwasher, laundry machine, and other major appliances.
6. Cut Down on Water
If you live in a region where water is a precious commodity, you already know the importance of water conservation. Turn off the faucet when you brush or teeth and shave, and don’t take so long in the shower! Hot water is not cheap; you can actually save $30 annually by reducing your shower time by two minutes each time.
New Era Debt Solutions has settled over a quarter billion dollars ($275,000,000) of debt since 1999 and wants you to be our next success story. To see if debt settlement is right for you, contact one of our friendly counselors for your free debt analysis.
