It’s common for many families to pay $500 for utility bills every month. According to Energy Star, half of the energy we use in our homes comes from heating and cooling. If you’re paying expensive utility bills, there are plenty of ways that you can save money without sacrificing too much. If you’re moving to Sacramento, when hooking up your Sacramento utility services, here are ways to cut down on water and energy costs. Read these tips from Cheap Movers, provider low-cost moving companies in Sacramento, CA, to learn more.
Water
- Taking short showers can save water and money. You should try to focus on getting in and out as quickly as you can. You can save approximately 4,000 gallons of water every year by reducing your shower time by four minutes. It may reduce your water bill by $100 every year.
- If you have a dishwasher, use it. You’ll be able to save a lot of water compared to washing your dishes by hand. Fill up a container with water and use that to rinse your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher rather than running your tap water for a few minutes.
Electric and Gas
- If you have a habit of leaving lights on when you aren’t in a room, consider installing motion detectors.
- When it’s cold outside, you’ll want to leave your blinds and curtains open so that the sunshine, if there is any, will warm up your home. When it’s hot outside, leave your blinds and curtains closed in rooms where sunlight comes in.
- Don’t have your electronics plugged in when you aren’t using them. Electronics use power even when they’re off. If you use a laptop, be sure to place it on a hard, flat surface. If you place it on any other surface, it may block airflow and overheat, causing your electric bill costs to rise.
- Wash your clothes using cold water. A washing machine uses most of the electricity for heating water.
- When it’s cold outside, wear socks to keep your feet warm. If your feet are cold, your body will be cold. If you’re still feeling cold in your home after wearing socks, use a sweater or blanket to keep yourself warm.
- Consider purchasing a programmable thermostat. It’ll allow you to adjust settings on a schedule so that you use less energy when you’re not home or while you’re sleeping.
- You should make sure that the outer walls, ceilings, doors, windows and floors of your home are properly insulated and sealed.
- Have your furnace inspected before cold temperatures arrive.
- When you do laundry or use a dishwasher, make sure that you wash full loads. You’ll save a lot of water because you won’t have to use your washing machine or dishwasher as often.
- When you’re cooking using your oven, be sure to keep the oven door closed as much as possible. It loses approximately 20 percent of its heat each time it’s opened.
Conclusion
You should identify appliances in your home that use a lot of energy and water and consider replacing them with appliances that are efficient. You’ll spend a lot of money to replace them, but you’ll realize it’s worth it.