Tips for Reducing Energy Costs

With the hot summer sun beating down, many homeowners are hiding away inside their cool air-conditioned home. But with the air conditioning blasting, electronics being used more often, and loads of wash increasing with the kids being home, energy bills can skyrocket during the summer months. So how can homeowners save money on their energy bills and still survive the heat? Well, let's take a look at a few tips on how to reduce energy use this summer.

Use fans instead of the AC: While it certainly can be tempting to blast the refreshing air conditioning to quickly cool down your home, air conditioning is a huge use of energy in homes. So instead of using AC all the time, try using a variety of fans to circulate cool air throughout the home. And open windows during those cool, breezy nights to let in some fresh air. If you must use air conditioning, consider installing a programmable thermostat to control temperature and save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs.

Consider cooking outside: One of the most common reasons houses get so hot in the summer is from people using the oven and stove in the kitchen to cook. To avoid this from happening, take advantage of that nice summer weather and cook outside. Grilling or smoking food outside is an easy way to keep the house cool and soak up some of that vitamin D. And if you're using gas grills, that's another easy way to reduce energy usage at home.

Be smart about electronics: With the kids out of school, electronics are probably being used a lot more often. And while it may not seem like they use a lot of energy, keeping track of electronic use is an easy way to save electricity. So when electronics, like TVs, tablets, laptops, and other devices, aren't in use, try to keep them unplugged. This will not only prevent them from continuing to use energy, but it will also keep them from heating up and increasing room temperature. So safely storing your electronics away can be an easy tip when it comes to figuring out how to reduce energy use.

Just because summer weather generally means higher utility bills doesn't mean you have to one of the homeowners who have to watch energy costs skyrocket. By following these few simple tips, you can keep cool, have a fun summer, and reduce your energy use.

3 Pieces of Energy Saving Technology You Need in Your Home and Office Right Now

Conserving energy is a conversation that many people in the U.S. and around the world are currently having, and for good reason. Something as simple as a programmable thermostat could save up to 10% on your heating and cooling costs.

Sometimes, energy conservation is as simple at investing in the right pieces of energy saving technology. If you're having trouble deciding which pieces of this technology are best for you, here's a short list of energy saving devices to put in your home or office today.

Solar Chargers
Instead of using outlets or your computer terminal to charge your phone, you should invest in a solar charger. Leave it out in the sun to power up and then boom! You've got a green energy supply for your phone, tablet, or laptop. But before you go out and buy a solar charger, make sure you've got the right cables to charge all of your different devices.

Smart Plugs
Not into solar power? No worries. If you're still into charging your phone the old fashioned way, you probably know how little time it takes to actually charge a phone to 100%. With a smart plug, you no longer need to worry about draining excess energy from your home after your phone or computer is done charging. Once a device's battery hits 100%, the smart plug attachment will cut off power, effectively saving you energy.

Rechargeable Batteries
This is probably one of the simplest fixes you can make if your goal is to save energy and the environment. When a camera or a flashlight runs out of battery life, you're probably used to throwing away the old batteries and opening a new package. But with rechargeable batteries, you no longer need to worry about constantly having new batteries on hand or disposing of old ones. Simply pop the dead batteries into a charging station and then put them back in your device once charging has completed. This is an excellent way to save energy and reduce waste in your home and office.

These pieces of energy saving technology are simple solutions that can make a big difference in your energy consumption. What are you waiting for? Get out there and save some energy.

3 Steps to Conserve Energy in Your Home

It seems as if we see the terms 'green energy' and 'renewable energy' everywhere these days, but how much of a role can you play in those goals as a homeowner? The answer is, you can play a pretty sizable one! Not only would you be helping out the environment by following steps to minimize your Eco-footprint, but also you can actually benefit from it in terms of money saved. There are five main tips to follow when you decide that energy conservation is something you want to take part in:

Talk to your electricity provider.

Many energy suppliers and electricity providers now take their own measures to conserve energy, and you should first check to see if yours is one of them. If yours does not take action on their own, you can consider planning your own energy conservation accordingly.

Account for what you use.

Chances are, you aren't cataloging where you're using energy in a typical day. In order to figure out where you can conserve energy, you should first take a few days to a week and make a list of where you're using energy and for how long. You may be surprised to see how long you leave the TV on when you're not watching it, or how much energy you could save by shutting your computer down every once in a while.

Conserve!

Now you're ready to cut down on your energy use. Electricity providers say that you can save almost 10% on your heating and cooling just by using a programmable thermostat. Or, you can take shorter, cooler showers and save 14 to 18% on water heating costs. Throughout the summer, look for air conditioning alternatives -- it could save you about 19%.

Don't forget: even the smallest things add up! Start saving energy and money now!