Energy costs are going up—especially in California—and we’re all looking for ways to save on our energy bills. There are several home performance and electrification upgrades you can make to reduce your home’s energy consumption and slash your bills, but most of those projects take time.
If you’re looking for fast and simple energy saving tips, keep reading! We share five things you can do right now to save energy and reduce your bills.
1. Adjust Your Thermostat
It may sound obvious, but one of the easiest ways to save energy at home is to adjust your thermostat. You don’t have to go without heat in the winter or AC in the summer to save; making small, barely noticeable adjustments can have a huge impact on your energy bills. According to the Department of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting. That can be accomplished just by adjusting your thermostat while you’re at work!
2. Clean Your Air Filters
When was the last time you cleaned your HVAC system’s air filters? Dirty filters reduce your heating and cooling system’s efficiency by making it harder for air to pass through, resulting in higher energy bills. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning or replacing filters every 30-90 days. If it’s been longer than that, take a few minutes to clean or replace your filters and enjoy the uptick in energy efficiency!
3. Unplug What You Aren’t Using
Many electronics can act as energy vampires, sucking up energy even when you’re not using them. You can save electricity (and reduce your bills) by unplugging things like your printer or TV when you’re not using them. Smart power strips make this easy by allowing you to turn multiple appliances or electronics off at once. =
4. Close Your Curtains
Curtains can help block out the sun in the summer, reducing heat gain, and providing extra insulation in the winter which reduces heat loss. If you have big windows that let a lot of sunlight in during the summer or get drafty in the winter, hanging curtains (and keeping them closed) can help. Hanging insulation blinds or curtains is a simple way to make your house more energy efficient.
5. Prepare for Upgrades with the Clean Energy Connection
Making small changes is a great place to start when improving your home’s energy efficiency, but upgrades like insulation and air sealing will have a more substantial impact on your overall energy consumption and bills.
The Clean Energy Connection makes it easy to find clean energy contractors for upgrades like:
- Insulation
- Ducted heat pumps
- Ductless heat pumps
- Heat pump water heaters
- Induction cooking
- Heat pump clothes dryers
- And much more
The directory is a free, online tool that connects California homeowners with reliable clean energy contractors. Every contractor featured in the directory has been vetted to ensure they provide quality service and have a high customer satisfaction rate. You can filter your search by services, location, incentives, and more to find the right contractor for your project. It’s free for contractors and homeowners, and we have no stake in who you choose!
The sooner you upgrade, the more you’ll save on your energy bills. So don’t wait! Use the Clean Energy Connection to find a contractor today.