4 Essential Tips to Reduce Energy Bills This Fall
With summer ending, a cold nip begins to enter the air.
This can be enough encouragement to head to the thermostat and increase your home’s temperature.
Similarly, as the darker nights creep in, more homeowners will reach for light switches to brighten up their houses.
For some people, these might be concerning tasks; although the gas price has dropped recently, the cost of electricity and gas can be a tad unpredictable.
In September 2024, the average cost of gas was $3.30 per gallon, $0.50 lower than the previous year.
However, there are ways to reduce your energy bills in the colder months without sacrificing your creature comforts.
Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances
When buying new appliances for your home, look for two numbers: the initial purchase cost and the annual operating price.
It’s essential to remember that you have to buy the product and pay to run it.
A lot of the time, the best energy-saving appliances will be the costlier ones, too.
It is also encouraged to look for the Energy Star label on applies.
Products that have received this label meet strict specifications on energy efficiency as outlined by the United States.
Compared to standard models, appliances with the Energy Star labels will use less energy.
These aspects of buying energy-efficient appliances will help you pay less for energy bills in the long run.
Insulate Your Home
Insulation retains heat during the cold season and keeps heat out during the summer.
You should seek the help of an energy auditor to decide if your home requires additional or new insulation.
This professional will help determine the level of insulation your home needs.
The essential areas of a home to insulate are the attic, basement, crawlspace, floors, and walls. Pipes should also be insulated to cut energy costs.
You should seek the services of a professional or reputable service to ensure this work is carried out to a high standard.
For example, Attic Pros can install new insulation through four steps: attic inspection, insulation installation, cleaning up, and answering any queries you have.
This improvement to your home will reduce condensation and prolong the life of your roof.
Replace Your Light Bulbs
Using LED bulbs instead of ordinary light bulbs can help you save money.
Although these bulbs will be more expensive than the traditional versions, many people find LEDs last longer and often pay for themselves within the year.
Again, it would be best if you looked out for the Energy Star symbol when purchasing.
Weatherproof the House
Weatherproofing your home includes more than just checking for water leaks when it rains.
Homeowners should also try to seal any air leaks they find, which will help to reduce their energy bills.
The key areas for air leaks are doors, vents, and windows.
Ensuring doors, vents, and windows are closed correctly is the first step, but you might also require caulk to seal any gaps.
Similarly, there might also be openings in the ceiling, floor, and walls that allow air to seep through.
With adequate insulation and weatherizing to help in the winter, you should see your heating bills lower.
Although many homeowners will be forced to increase their energy usage during the fall and winter, there are ways to reduce their heating and electric bills.
By following the tips in this post, you will save some money and do your bit for the environment, too.
