5 Energy Saving Tips and Tools for Homeowners
Although all of us are thankful for the convenience that electricity and water provide inside of our households, if there’s one thing that we wish we could change, it would be how much money is spent on our energy bills each month, especially during the summer and winter seasons.
The good news is that there are certain things that you can do that will instantly help to reduce the amount of energy that you use so that you can ultimately keep more money in your pocket. If you’re interested in knowing what some of those things are, here are five energy-saving tips and tools for all homeowners.
Do landscaping. One of the best ways to reduce your energy bill actually has nothing to do with the things that you should make inside of your home. If you happen to live in an area that has particularly harsh winters or summers, it’s a good idea to add some trees and shrubs to the front of the windows that are around your house. By doing so, you can block some of the sun’s rays in the summer and the harsh winds in the winter from coming through the windows of your home.
Use natural light. Do you want to know one way to reduce your energy bills by as much as 20-30 percent? Open up your window treatments more often. By relying on natural light during daytime hours, you can forego overhead and lamp lighting. If you’re concerned about your privacy being invaded by leaving your curtains or blinds open, consider having your windows professionally tinted. That way, you can look out of your windows without worrying about others looking in.
Purchase a humidifier (and a dehumidifier). There are two things that can help to keep the moisture levels within your home down: a humidifier and a dehumidifier. By putting a humidifier in certain rooms of your house during the summer, it can bring more moisture in. By using a dehumidifier during the winter, it can pull some moisture out. By using both, it makes your house less humid and the less humid a house is, the less you have to worry about constantly changing the temperature in your house. Plus, you’ll have to worry less about allergies and asthma flare-ups too.
Add more insulation. If the insulation inside of your attic is less than 12″ thick, you can be sure that you’re not receiving proper attic ventilation and insulation and that you’re spending more on your energy bills that you should be. However, by adding more insulation to your attic, that helps to keep the rooms in your home at a more comfortable temperature year round. That way, you won’t have to adjust your thermostat as much. Just make sure that it’s an eco-friendly material like denim or sheep’s wool; it’s safer for you and your home. One website that can walk you through how to add insulation to your attic is DIY Network. Just go to the site and put “DIY insulation” in the search field.
Install a low-flow showerhead and toilet. Saving energy is not just about using less electricity but water as well. By installing a low-flow showerhead and toilet into your bathroom, you will literally save dozens of gallons of water each day and 20-40 percent on your water bills each year. For more information on low-flow items, visit your favorite search engine and put “low-flow showerheads and toilets” in the search field.
