How to Save Energy and Money: 6 Expert Tips

We all know that there are many hidden costs to owning a home. Property maintenance can put a dent in our budget. One area that can be particularly expensive is energy use. Here are six great tips on how to save energy and potentially save money on your energy bill.

1. Maintain Your HVAC System

Make sure that you have regular maintenance on your heating and air-conditioning system. During routine maintenance, Freon levels are checked. Freon is the coolant that helps run your HVAC system and if the level is too low the system will have to run harder. This will increase your energy bill. That is what is important to make sure the Freon level is correct. The other thing you need to do is change the filters in your system. Old filters block the flow of air, which causes the system to work harder. This will also increase your energy bill.

2. Check Your Freezer

A good approach on how to save energy is to check your freezer and refrigerator. Sometimes we tend to have our freezer temperature and our refrigerator temperature cooler than necessary. A safe rule of thumb is to set your freezer at 5 degrees Fahrenheit and set your refrigerator at 38 degrees Fahrenheit. This will keep all your food fresh and all your frozen items nice and solid. However, these temperatures will not make your refrigerator run harder than necessary to arrive at temperatures that are cooler than you actually need.

3. Avoid Peak Hours

If you are going to be involved in a household project that will use a lot of energy, try to schedule it so that you are not doing it in peak hours. Utility companies may charge higher rates during regular daytime hours. For example, these times would exclude the hours between 10 p.m. and 10 a.m., weekends, and holidays. It has been shown that some rates are 40% higher during peak periods, so adjusting your laundry schedule, for example, to work around these times may save you money.

4. Invest in a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats really are smart! They actually are programmed to work according to your habits, they can show you the amount of energy that you're using in real time, and can also be self-adjusting. For instance, if the humidity in your home rises, a smart thermostat will adjust automatically. If you have left the house for work and you forgot to turn your air conditioner off, you can use your smart thermostat to lower the temperature. This will definitely save you money and save energy as well.

5. Switch to LED Light Bulbs

As a consumer in today's market, we all have several choices in the types of light bulbs that we select. In prior years, the only option available was an incandescent light bulb. But now technology has addressed the matter of how to save energy by creating energy saving LED and CFL light bulbs. Switching to these models can add up to savings on your energy bill.

6. Seal Cracks Around Doors and Windows

It's a fact that up to 20% of your energy bill, whether it is heating or cooling related, can be saved by having the proper type of insulation around your doors and windows. This kind of proactive approach will make sure that leaks are eliminated, which will prevent cool or warm air to just drift out into your yard. You will also have the additional benefit of a more comfortable house. If that's not enough, you may even save money, too.

These tips on how to save energy can help with your energy expenses, potentially reduce your electricity costs, and make you part of the population that is involved in energy conservation. They really are easy ways to save energy in your home; plus, your budget can even see the rewards for using less energy!

Cutting Carbon Emissions

The conundrum lies with the need to use energy for such reasons as heating and cooling homes, but this contributes to the carbon problem. There are many personal rewards for energy use such as staying warm during winter blizzards, keeping cool when the sun is sweltering, and being able to see indoors when the sun goes down. By altering a few behaviors to become more energy-efficient, people can enjoy the benefits of energy use while still being cognizant to carbon emissions.

Ways to Work Towards Energy Reduction Rewards

Energy reduction rewards can come in the form of self-satisfaction knowing you're helping the environment or in physical rewards such as reduced energy bills or benefits with energy suppliers for being more green with energy use. Below are a few things to consider that will help work towards whatever energy reduction rewards are best suited for you.

Check for Home Leaks

Check for any leaks in seals that could be allowing air to seep in and out. A house is supposed to be a contained unit where air temperature can be controlled. If there are multiple leaks, this makes it harder on the thermostat to regulate the temperature causing the heater or air conditioner to work more than it should. Be sure to check for leaks around doors and windows as well as any place that additions to a home have been added and the original foundation or framing was dismantled. Cracks and breaks in seals are likely to appear first in such locations. Ensuring the house is properly sealed and insulated could reduce heating and cooling bills by 20%.

Check the Thermostat

Break out the blankets instead of dialing up the heat. Turn the thermostat down a few notches in the winter to reduce carbon emissions from heat. A two-degree drop can reduce emissions by 6%, which is roughly 420 pounds of carbon per home. A minute drop can contribute to great rewards for energy use.

Check Insulation

In addition to turning down the thermostat, invest in proper insulation for walls and ceilings. If all cracks are sealed, insulation can cut down on the need to heat the house reducing energy bills by 20-30%. Insulation helps contain the heat that is produced, cutting carbon emissions by 140 to 2100 pounds per year.

Check Home Décor

Two things can help contribute to managing house temperature: foliage and paint color. Foliage such as shade trees can help shade the house from the sun's rays in times of warm weather, reducing how much the air conditioner might have to work. The same goes for paint. Depending on the climate, lighter pastels are better at deflecting the sun's rays and keeping the house cooler, while darker colors are more useful in absorbing the sun's rays to keep a house warmer. Either way, the strategic use of foliage and paint in climates can save 2.4 tons of carbon emissions per year. The trees also help take some of the carbon out of the air.

No matter what rewards for energy use you are looking for, personal or environmental, careful attention to how energy is used and managed in the home can result in maximum energy reduction rewards for all involved. Check for leaks, monitor the thermostat, install insulation, and use appropriate décor to curb unnecessary carbon emissions.

Types Of Renewable Energy Available Today

Renewable energy refers to energy sources that naturally replenish. This energy is flow-limited. However, it can potentially reduce your household or commercial building energy use by 33% to 80% if you use energy-efficient halogen incandescent, LEDs, and CFLs. There are seven types of renewable energy you can invest in. These include:

1. Bioenergy: This type of energy is derived from biomass, which is used to create heat and electricity. It is also used to produce liquid fuel that is used in transportation (ethanol and biodiesel). Biomass is any organic matter that comes from living plants or animals. This type of power generation process produces the same amount of carbon dioxide as fossil fuels. The replacement plants are grown as biomass work to reduce carbon dioxide. This cycle keeps the environment relatively neutral.
   
2. Geothermal: These renewable energy options are derived directly from the earth's heat. It is sourced close to the surface or from heated rocks. It is also derived from reservoirs of hot water beneath the earth's surface. In mass production, a geothermal plant is used to harness these renewable energy sources and to generate electricity. In smaller scales, the pump is installed by a local energy company about 10 feet under the ground. The electricity produced is used to supply heat to a nearby building.
   
3. Hydroelectric energy: Hydroelectric energy is one of the most familiar types of renewable energy. Power is generated by installing a system near dams that have water reservoirs. The water is released to flow through turbines and electricity is produced in the process. The water cycles between lower and upper reservoirs, controlling generation between high and low pick demand. This process is called pumped-storage hydropower. Run-of-river hydropower, however, channels a portion of the river through funnels to produce electricity. This type does not require a dam.
   
4. Hydrogen: Hydrogen is the simplest and the most abundant element in the universe. However, it does not occur naturally on earth but resides in organic compounds such as gasoline, natural gases, propane, and methanol as well as water. Some algae and bacteria can also be used to produce hydrogen through solar energy. If you are thinking of saving energy through a high power renewable energy source, this is your option. Best of all, though it's high in energy, it produces little to no pollution when burned. The cells are used to convert the potential chemical energy into electricity. Water and heat are the only byproducts in the process. The cost of production is, however, relatively high, which has made its commercialization decrease, at least until the price decreases.
   
5. Solar energy: When you hear of the different types of renewable energy, the first thing that comes to mind is probably solar. This is the most commercial renewable energy source. Heat and electricity are generated by capturing the sun's rays directly on panels. The electricity produced is then channeled to be used as electricity for heating and cooling systems, lights, and general residential or commercial use. This type of renewable energy source is the most versatile and has made its way to over 9.1 million homes and businesses across the country. All other types of renewable energy used the sun except hydrogen and geothermal.
   
6. Ocean: The motions and tides of the waves can be used to produce heat and mechanical energy. Also, thermal energy can be generated from the ocean. This energy is converted into electricity by different systems that make use of the warm surface water temperature of the sea. This energy can be used to reduce electricity cost of a building near the ocean current.
   
7. Wind energy: Wind energy is captured by turbines and converted into electricity, which is then channeled into your home or commercial building. Wind power is used to pump water on farms, but it is making its way to homes through commercial-grade wind generating systems. Wind flow is typically captured by turbines and converted into electricity.

When your business wants to go green, or you want to save on power bills, you are likely to choose from one of these renewable energy options. Installation is typically costly, but the long-term savings you make, not just in money but also in the environment make it worth it.