Energy Saving Tips for the Consumer

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Electrical and gas bills can be expensive, especially if you’re not careful with how you manage your electricity. If you’re using old, worn out refrigerators and if you’re consistently forgetting to turn off your lights, then your energy bills may be higher than you want them to be. Not only will you be saving money by adopting energy-saving techniques for your home, you’ll also be helping the environment as well.

Here are some simple and easy energy saving tips that will create a comfortable living environment in your home, as well as cut down the costs on your energy and gas bills:

• Caulking: Head over to your local home improvement or department store and pick up some caulk. Caulking and sealing the unwanted leaks in your home will insulate your home better, therefore saving you money. If you walk pass a window in your home and you can feel a slight breeze or hear whistling even if it’s closed, then you’ll have to seal that window up. Make sure you buy the correct type of caulk (interior, exterior, heat resistant, bathroom, etc.) for the project you’re working on.

• Lighting: Incandescent light bulbs, while they work in certain rooms, are wasteful and not very energy efficient. A good alternative to incandescent light bulbs are compact fluorescent light bulbs that typically use 75% less energy and last about 10 times longer. Even halogen light bulbs use up to 40 % less electricity than incandescent bulbs. Talk to your local hardware store’s sales person to understand which light bulb works best for each room of your home.

• Saving on water: There are multiple ways to save water and money. The main room for this is the bathroom. Adding in water-saver flush kit or having a smaller toilet can save on water usage, therefore cutting down on costs. Showers should have energy efficient heads that controls the water output without affecting the water pressure. For example, a low-flow shower head saves as much as 60 % of the water used by a conventional fixture. Also, leaky taps can waste a substantial amount of water.

• Replacing old appliances: Refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and freezers should be replaced if they are more than 15 years old. More recent models of these appliances can save more energy. For example, refrigerators today can save about 50 percent more electricity than refrigerators that were made 10 years ago. Sometimes buying a new appliance will save you more money than an old one that you've been holding onto.

• Changing old habits: The way you act within your home can also have an effect on your energy consumption. For example, if you have a bad habit of leaving the television on while no one is watching or the tap running, then you’re going to have to spend a bit more on your utility bills. Taking extremely long, hot showers can also have an effect on your energy consumption, in particular your gas bill. Putting “post-it” notes over light switches or other appliances reminding you to turn them off will decrease your energy consumption.

Of course there are more things you can do to cut down on wasteful energy consumption. While you don’t think you waste too much electricity, most people don’t notice or choose to ignore the amount of energy they actually use. So follow these tips and save some money!