Money Saving Tips

          Due to Covid-19, many homeowners are finding themselves spending more time at home. In return, they are seeing a big rise in their utility bills. With many companies saving money by keeping their employees working from home, it seems many will continue to use their home office, and their own utilities. If you are one of these homeowners, here are some tips to keep your bills down and your pockets happy.

1. Switch to Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
According to EnergyStar.gov, Energy Star-certified light bulbs use about 70 to 90 percent less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs and can help you save between $30 and $80 per bulb.
2. Adjust Your Fridge and Freezer Temperature
Set your fridge to 38 degrees and your freezer between 0 and 5 degrees. This will keep your food fresh, but your fridge and freezer won’t need to work as hard to maintain the temperature.
3.Unplug Your Electronics
While there are certainly electronics that we use every day, there are plenty that stay plugged in constantly without being used for days at a time like an extra TV or video game console you rarely use. When electronics remain plugged in but are not in use, they still continue to use a small amount of energy ( “phantom energy”) just by remaining connected to the outlet.
4.Switch to a Programmable Thermostat
According to Energy.gov, you may see annual savings of up to 1 percent per 8-hour period for each degree you turn down your thermostat.
5.Optimize Your Window Coverings
Depending on the season, there are a few tricks you can consider to help regulate the temperature in your home. In the winter, let the sun do some of the work for you by keeping your blinds open during a sunny day. During the cold winters, consider using temporary plastic window film to help block out the cold and wind. In the summer, help lessen the workload of your cooling system by keeping the blinds shut until you get home at night.
6. Dry Your Clothes More Efficiently
When possible, hang out your clothes on a clothesline or consider buying a drying rack and let clothes air dry. Another simple, but often-overlooked, step you can take when doing your laundry is to clean the lint trap in your clothes dryer after each use, says Energy.gov. This helps ensure proper airflow during your drying cycle. Use dryer balls, they can actually cut drying time by up to 25%.
7.Use Low-Flow Fixtures
Low-flow fixtures can help reduce the amount of water used and potentially lower your water bill. You can either replace existing fixtures or add an attachment to your shower head, bathroom and kitchen faucets to help reduce the amount of water used without sacrificing water pressure.
8. Adjust the Temperature on Your Water Heater
The default temperature setting on water heaters is typically 140 degrees. Lowering it to 120 degrees can reduce your water heating costs by up to 10%.
9. Take Shorter Showers
This one might seem like a no brainer, but trimming only two minutes off your shower time can cut your water usage by five gallons.
10. Contact Your Utility Company
Many utility companies have programs and incentives in place to help encourage their customers to cut back on energy consumption.