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!

Understanding The 5 Types of Renewable Energy Sources

According to statistics, in 2015, about 10% of total U.S. energy consumption was from renewable energy sources. According to published reports, production of renewable energy is relatively cheaper compared to fossil fuels, making it a more affordable energy source.

Renewable energy sources are found naturally in sunlight, underground, air, and in the oceans. They are renewed continuously, typically, and it is impossible to exhaust them. They are the best choice when compared to traditional fossil fuels because they are more environmentally friendly. Renewable energy sources are relevant because they lead to less pollution and are an ideal way for power generation.

There are different types of renewable energy sources that generate electricity directly or indirectly and help in the fight against global warming. Some of these sustainable energy forms include:

1. Solar energy: Sunlight is one of the most commonly known sources of renewable energy. The power generation is achieved by harvesting the sun's energy and light and converting it into heat. Once the energy is saved, it is used for lighting, water heating, and cooling systems inside homes or businesses.
   
   
   One of the key benefits of using solar power at home or at a company is the ability to save on energy costs. The initial cost of installing solar panels can be slightly high, but in the long run, many households and businesses report a reduction in their energy bills.
   
2. Wind: Another renewable energy source is wind. The flow of the wind is captured by turbines and then converted into electricity. The electricity generated by wind turbines can be used to supplement energy in already existing establishments, and some cases can offset the need for energy from electricity providers. Farmers have also been known to prefer using power generated from the wind reducing their energy expenses.
   
3. Geothermal energy: This is another source of sustainable energy. The energy, in this case, is generated from the heat of the earth. The heat can be found either close to the surface of the earth or from heated rock and hot water reservoirs that are deep in the ground. Geothermal power plants are then able to generate electricity from these sources and supply power to various establishments and homes. Manufacturing plants, heating water at fish farms, as well as helping with growing greenhouse plants are some of the ways that geothermal power is used directly.
   
4. Hydroelectricity: This is energy that is from water or the kinetic energy from flowing rivers. Commonly, hydroelectric power is generated when water stored in dams is released and flows through turbines and produces electricity. This type of system is known as pumped-storage hydropower.
   
   
   Run-of-river hydropower is another system where energy is generated from a flowing river requiring no dam or water reservoirs. Hydroelectricity can also be used to run big manufacturing plants as well as power households and is considered to be environmentally friendly.
   
5. Energy from the ocean: The ocean can produce two types of energy; thermal energy generated from the sun's heat and mechanical energy produced out of the waves and motions of tides. Electricity is generated from ocean thermal energy by using different systems that depend on the temperatures of the water on the surface. Ocean mechanical energy, on the other hand, depends on the ebbs and tides that result from the rotation of the earth and the influence of the moon.

Renewable energy sources are not only friendly to the environment but are also a cheaper source of electricity. Various green energy providers can offer advice on the best source for your home or industry depending on the cost and available sources available locally.

Apartment Renter? No Problem! Here's How You Can Still Go Green

It may seem impossible to save energy when you're living in a rental apartment. After all, you only have so much control over what you can do in your space. This is often why topics on saving energy and reducing utility bills are often directed at homeowners.

Fortunately, there are ways that you can reduce your electric bill and save energy as a renter too. Check out these nifty tips on how to save energy in your apartment:


Use LED light bulbs around your apartment. LED lights may be more expensive initially, but you'll thank your past self for making the decision to purchase a box.

LED lights last significantly longer than halogen lights and don't give off as much heat. Not only does this reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses let out into the air, but it also reduces the risk of fire in your home.

Purchase a power strip.
Power strips are a great way to save energy in your apartment. By plugging most of your electronics into one place, you can turn them all off at once when you're not using them.
This can help to reduce carbon emissions as well as reducing your electricity bill. By turning off your unused electronics in one spot, you keep them from sucking energy from the wall when they're not in use.

Use fans.
A lot of an apartment's electricity goes to the HVAC system during the summer and winter months. By placing a fan in your apartment, you can keep your air conditioning or heating at a lower temperature and circulate the air with the fan.

Invest in a programmable thermostat.
If you live in an apartment where you can install your own thermostat, consider investing in a programmable thermostat. You can reduce up to 6% of the carbon dioxide emissions from your home by lowering your thermostat only two degrees during the winter. You can also keep the heating or air conditioning off while you're away from your apartment to reduce energy use even more.

Going green isn't just something homeowners can do; you can save energy in your apartment too! By making simple changes around your home, you can make your utility smaller and reduce the impact you have on the environment around you. Contact Starion Energy today with questions or energy options.

How Can I Be More Energy Efficient?

Between computers, data centers, lighting, appliances, heating and air conditioning, businesses require a high amount of energy to function. This can lead to steep energy bills from the electric company and a significant environmental footprint. Energy saving technology and techniques can curb this cost, leading to a greener, more energy efficient home and workplace. Follow these simple tips to save energy in your business and home.

Schedule an energy audit. An assessment of your current energy consumption is a great place to start, as it will point to your specific problem areas. Depending on the nature of your business, you might only need to update specific aspects of your space to be more efficient. Be sure to take the energy professional's advice seriously.

Use natural light. By installing skylights and windows, you can rely on sunlight rather than electricity to light your office or commercial space. Reducing energy costs and consumption, natural light will also create a more pleasant working and living environment.

Control air leaks. If you have skylights and windows, be sure to check them for air leaks. You might find that inefficient seals are causing you to waste heating and air conditioning energy. Basic window repair and inspection can keep as much air inside of your home/building as possible.

Switch to solar energy. In addition to providing natural light, the sun is also a great renewable energy source. By installing solar panels, your home and business can cut down on energy costs significantly. This will make the initial investment worth it.

Install energy efficient appliances. By switching to energy star rated appliances, your home and business' savings will add up over time. Consider switching your traditional light bulbs for halogen incandescents, as these can reduce energy use by a third to 80%. When making the choices about which appliances to install, be sure to keep your energy audit in mind.

By making small changes to the way your home and business consumes energy, you will notice lower electric bills overall. Being mindful of your energy use will lead to a more energy efficient home and workplace.

Five Easy Ways to Reduce Energy Use In Your Home

The energy we use in our own homes can easily turn into one of our biggest monthly expenses. That's why we are always looking for ways to save on energy costs, whether that means obsessively turning off lights or lowering the thermostat no matter the temperature outside. If you're interested in saving on your electricity bill, then keep reading to learn about five ways to save on energy costs. And for certain areas of the country, these tips are also great opportunities to build up your Reduce Your Use Rewards and save even more!

Check Your Windows

During the winter months, you may not even realize that your windows are a huge source of energy loss. They are one of the most common places for air to leak out, and if left unsealed these air leaks can cost you 20% more on heating and cooling bills. Choosing to change out your windows for energy saving windows, like vinyl framed or tinted windows, can drastically save you money through energy reduction over time.

Update Appliances

Many new appliances were designed to conserve energy. Though they tend to initially cost a bit more, they will ultimately save you more money in the long run than the alternative, while also increasing your Reduce Your Use Rewards at the same time. Be sure to check to see if the next appliance you are thinking about buying can save energy, because that also means it can save you money.

The Great Outdoors

Planting just a couple trees in your yard can actually result in saving money on energy costs. A tree's branches and leaves can shade your home from the hot sun during summer months and break up the wind and snow during winter. While it may seem small, even two or three trees can actually make quite an amount of difference.

Thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat can pay for itself in a couple months time. While you're away from the house, you can set the temperature to a lower degree that can save you a lot on energy costs in just those few hours that you'll be away. They are relatively inexpensive and provide a huge return on investment by saving you money.

Gadgets

Nearly every gadget in your home runs on direct current. This means, even when not plugged in, their charger is still consuming electricity. It is a good idea to not only turn off all laptops, printers, and coffee makers when not in use, but to completely unplug them and their chargers from the wall. This can save you a lot on energy costs.

Saving energy is often easier than we realize, especially in the home. We hope these little-known tips helped you find new ways to lower your energy costs and save you money.
For more information about your energy options, please visit starionenergy.com.

Is Your Refrigerator Green? Making Changes to Save on Energy Costs for the Home

Homeowners are always on the lookout for energy savings, and the good news is that recent technological developments are making energy conservation much more attainable. And with the average bill topping $100 every month, the quest for energy solutions can be an important one. 

That cost could drop to $90 monthly just by the installation of a thermostat that turns itself off and on in the homeowners' absence or regulates air temperature at night, when people are asleep. Keeping the house just a little bit cooler for eight hours a day during the winter months can add up to a savings of over $100 a year.

Solar panel systems are also becoming increasingly popular for homeowners who want to maximize their energy savings. There are tax breaks for commercial and home installation available in many states across the country. In fact, many homeowners report receiving monthly checks from electricity companies due to the fact that their solar systems generate more electricity than their home or business can use.

Smart appliances are also helping many Americans save big on energy costs. While the typical family spends about $20 monthly just to heat water for showers, dishes, and cooking, an insulated water heater can generate big savings.

Add in an eco-friendly shower head designed to save water and a washing machine that operates more efficiently, and the savings can mount rapidly. Even refrigerators are now designed to use one-quarter of the energy they did 50 years ago.

The idea of a $0 energy bill is very appealing to most home and business owners, and thanks to recent technological advances the cost of homeownership is becoming much more affordable. Although ecologically friendly appliances and solar panel systems require a financial investment, renewable energy can save thousands of dollars for a home in the long-term, maximizing energy savings and contributing to a healthier home.

10 Easy Ways You Can Conserve Energy Today

Feeling the heat of summer electricity costs every time you open a bill from the electric company? You’re not alone. Between the costs of electricity generation and growing environmental awareness, people all around the world are looking for ways to cut down on their usage and see some energy savings. Fortunately, energy conservation doesn’t have to mean giving up modern comforts. Here are 10 easy ways you can start reducing your energy usage today:

1. Get a Programmable Thermostat

Air conditioning actually accounts for the largest portion of U.S. residential electricity use at 19%. But you can use about 10% less energy for cooling (and heating) by controlling temperatures with a programmable thermostat.

2. Replace All Your HVAC Filters

Inefficient HVAC systems have to work harder to keep your home comfortable. Replacing filters is an easy and relatively inexpensive way to give your system a boost. You should also ask your electric company if it offers any incentives for putting in high-efficiency systems.

3. Don’t Let the Sunshine In

You might want to soak up the sun this summer, but the same doesn’t go for your house. Insulated drapes and blinds can keep the sun from heating up the interior of your home. Long term, you might consider painting your house a light color and planting shade trees in order to reduce energy spent on summer cooling.

4. Install Low-Flow Shower Heads

Water heating is another major energy expense in most homes, accounting for 14 to 18% of utility bills. Use less hot water by installing a low-flow showerhead -- it will take literally minutes to do.

5. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water

For the same reason, you can save quite a bit of energy by washing your clothes in cold or warm, rather than hot, water. Even if you do only two loads of laundry per week, you can also save around 500 pounds of CO2 from being released each year by doing so (that’s if you have an electric water heater; the figure is about 150 pounds for a gas water heater).

6. Embrace Line-Dried Laundry

Especially in the summer, many light fabrics don’t need to go in the dryer. You can get a folding drying rack for clothes if you don’t have space for an outside line.

7. Fill the Dishwasher All the Way

Don’t run the dishwasher until it’s full -- it will use the same amount of resources whether it’s washing five plates or 50. You can also turn off the drying cycle and allow dishes to air dry, which can shave around 20% off your dishwasher’s electricity usage.

8. Seal Around Your Windows

Caulking costs less than $1 per window, and can make a big difference when it comes to energy losses.

9. Unplug Battery and Device Chargers

Many chargers continue to draw power even when not in use, so it’s best to only plug them in when you’re actually charging something.

10. Cook Dinner on the Grill

Instead of cooking inside during the summer -- which will produce extra heat that your air conditioning will need to tackle -- grill outside. It’s more fun anyway.

Want to do even more concerning electricity conservation? Ask your electric company about smart meters that can help you accurately track your usage.

What You Need to Know About Energy-Efficient Home Appliances

Whether you’re trying to keep the heat in during the winter or the heat out during the summer, home heating and cooling uses a lot of energy. Add to that tasks such as doing laundry and leisure activities such as watching TV, and you might be shocked when you open up the bill from the electric company each month. Modifying your habits is a good start on the goal of energy conservation. But if you’re really looking for energy savings, then investing in some Energy Star-rated products might be to your advantage. Here’s what you should know about choosing more efficient appliances: The Concept of Energy Efficiency First, it helps to think a bit more about the concept of energy efficiency and the impact it can have on how we think about power generation and use. Coming up with better ways to generate power through renewable energy sources and lowering the overall costs of power through policies such as energy deregulation are important, but all too often people assume that power consumption must automatically rise as we add more and more conveniences to our lives. The flaw in this model is that we can also engineer the things we use to give the same or better performance even while using less energy. That’s what energy efficiency means: using less energy to do the same work. For example, the average fridge sold today in the U.S. uses only about three-fourths of the energy one sold in 1975 did, even though it is about a fifth bigger and costs three-fifths less. The Energy Star Certification Program  One of the ways energy efficiency can have a big impact is in home appliances. While all modern appliances tend to be much more efficient than their earlier counterparts, Energy Star appliances are held to much stricter efficiency guidelines. The Energy Star program was started by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy in 1992, and has now spread around the world. You can buy Energy Star heat pumps and water heaters (something to think about, since water heating is one of the largest expenses in a typical home, accounting for 14% to 18% of utility bills), Energy Star refrigerators and dishwashers, and even Energy Star washers and dryers. In fact, the very first Energy Star-certified dryers just recently went on sale. Most major brands make appliances that are Energy Star rated. Calculating Return on Investment To figure out whether you’ll save enough money on your utility bills to justify new appliances, you can look at the guidelines for the appliance you’re considering. Energy Star dryers, for example, must use at least 20% less energy than industry standard dryers. If all new dryers sold in the U.S. were Energy Star certified, Americans would save a collective $1.5 billion annually on utility costs. And if energy savings aren’t enough for you, those dryers would also prevent the emission of the same amount of greenhouse gasses put into the atmosphere by about 2 million vehicles. That makes replacing old appliances with new, efficient ones both a short-term and long-term investment in your pocketbook and the future of the planet. Add your thoughts on responsible energy savings in the comments.

5 Easy Ways to Trim Down Your 2015 Electric Bills

You may have already made some New Year’s resolutions regarding your relationships with your waistline. But January is also the perfect time of year to think seriously about energy solutions and resolve to make energy conservation a priority in the coming months. After all, that’s a resolution that can benefit not only your pocketbook, but the entire planet. There are some energy-saving tips you’ve probably heard over and over; for example, you can reduce your heating and cooling costs by about 10% when you install a programmable thermostat. But there are plenty more ways to cut down on energy use without sacrificing your quality of life. Here are five ideas to get you started: 1.     Slay Power Vampires You may have invited energy-sucking vampires into your home without even knowing it. In the context of power usage, a “vampire” is an appliance that draws power even when it’s not in use. Having these various devices on in stand-by mode can increase your power usage by up to 15%. One easy way to shut these devices down completely is to hook them up to a plugstrip you can easily switch off. 2.    Upgrade Your Bulbs This one is about as easy as it gets in terms of energy solutions. Change out the incandescent light bulbs in your house for compact fluorescent ones. As long as you look for “soft white,” you won’t get that industrial feel. If you really want to go high tech, consider investing in LED bulbs. 3.    Let the Sunshine In Take advantage of helpful weather, and shut bad weather out. That means opening up blinds and curtains to let the sun warm your home when you can, and making sure wind and cold can’t get in. You may want to consider a professional energy audit, which can let you know what areas of your home are losing energy or letting the elements in; you’ll save money in the long run. 4.    Use Appliances Efficiently The energy used to heat water in your home probably makes up a significant portion of your utility bills -- 14 to 18%, on average. Wash clothes in cold water, and only run the dishwasher when it’s full. If you or your family members tend to lose track of time in the shower, putting a timer in the bathroom (or even a small hourglass that can attach to the shower wall with a suction cup) can ensure that shower lengths stay under control. 5.    Scour Your Electric Bill Take a good look at your electric bill. It’s possible that you’re living in a deregulated energy market, meaning that you can choose an alternative electric supplier.  You can even deepen your commitment to renewable energy by selecting a provider that uses green energy sources. What other energy solutions should people consider for the new year? Add your ideas in the comments.