We are blessed with the discovery and proper utilization of energy around us. There are several sources of energy that makes our living easier. Energy lights up our home every night, keeps us warm during cold winter, allows us to be entertained, and makes our living pleasant no matter what time of the day. With all the other uses of energy from the moment, we check our clocks in the morning to keeping us warn as we rest during the night, all of us would agree that it would be so hard to live without it.
We can say that we have sufficient energy supply for a lifetime but that does not mean that we are not going to conserve it. After all, technology has its price.
If coping with electric bill is your problem every time you see your bills, here are the ways on how to lower them.
Provide good roof coating
A good roof coating deflects heat. As a result, ensuring that the roof receives a good coating would mean that your house would maintain good temperature on the inside.
Keep your attic well ventilated
Your attic is one of the more important parts of your house when it comes to the cooling system. The attic is your first and probably the most effective part of your house the keeps the whole house cool. However, in order for your attic to do its main purpose, make sure that it is well insulated.
Provide vents where the heat can come out during summer. Your attic door must also be sealed to ensure that the air from our house does not go through it and vice versa. The attic door can be sealed with weather strippers.
Securing all the leaks
Leaks contribute to the high cost of home energy. Why? It is because air from your house can easily come out from these leaks, and the air from the outside can easily enter the house. Both increase the workload of your heating and cooling system.
You have to remember that air moves according to air pressure and temperature. Since the temperature of inside your house is most of the time different from the temperature outside, air moves freely from these leaks. Making sure that the leaks are sealed would mean less work on your heating and cooling system and lower electric bills.
Leaks would come from fireplaces, ducts, doors, ceilings, floors, walls, windows, plumbing penetrations, electrical outlets, fans, and vents.
Reducing the thermostat
One degree centigrade is equivalent to 5% electric bill savings. Therefore, keeping your thermostat low will save you a lot of money. A total saving would also come from switching your thermostat further low when you are not home or if you are sleeping. The ideal temperature during winter is not higher than 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Limiting the use of water heater
The second largest electric consumer next to your heating and cooling system is your water heater.
When you wash your clothes, you don’t need to heat the water up. Just use the water from the faucet. This will save you by as much as 90% in washing machine energy consumption.
Use energy efficient material around your home
There are commercially available materials that would significantly contribute to the reduction of the cost of home energy. One of these is energy efficient windows that deflect the outside temperature (whether during winter or summer) from entering your home.
Use Your Appliance Efficiently
It is pretty basic for all of us to turn off televisions, air conditioning, stereos and other electronic gadgets when not using them. However, most still disregard this. The reality is, we can save a lot if we only learn how to turn them off if not in use. Also, small things such as iPod chargers, cellphone chargers, digital clocks, lights and other things that seem to consume small electric current that remain plugged day in and day out contribute to your electric bill. Making sure you unplug them would certainly lower down your monthly electric consumption.
You have the details. All you have to do is to make sure you follow them all.