The only way to build wealth is by cutting your monthly expenses and choosing the right investments. Effectively cutting your monthly expenses will provide you with a surplus of money that you can then invest in things like stocks, real estate or crypto currencies. Having a written monthly budget is crucial when trying to identify where your money is going.
Receiving a higher-than-normal energy bill can throw your entire budget off. Until you fix sources of energy waste in your home, your monthly energy bills will continue to grow. Read below to find out about some of the mistakes that homeowners make that increase home energy consumption rates.
Neglecting your HVAC unit
When the temperatures outside start to warm up, you will need to work on keeping the inside of your home cool and comfortable. The best way to accomplish this goal is by investing in a high-quality HVAC unit. Regardless of how reliable your HVAC unit is, it will not stay that way for long if it isn’t maintained properly. An older HVAC unit can waste a lot of energy, especially when it goes years without professional maintenance.
Not only does a poorly maintained waste energy, it will also be very unreliable. If you want to conserve energy without compromising your comfort, then hiring professionals to maintain your residential HVAC unit is a wise move. Working with a company like Efficient Air Service will allow you to get your unit maintained the right way. Once these professionals are done, you should see a noticeable difference in how your unit runs.
Leaving appliances and electronics plugged in
As a homeowner, you need to become familiar with the term phantom load. This term is used to describe the power used by appliances and electronics that are plugged in. Even if these appliances and electronics are in standby mode, they can use far more energy than you realize. A recent study by the Department of Energy found that standby power usage accounts for nearly 10% of a home’s total energy usage.
Instead of allowing these energy drainers to make your energy bills too high, you need to take action. The best way to reduce the standby power usage problem is by unplugging certain electronics and appliances in your home.
Anything that has an electronic time display or can be operated with a remote usually consumes lots of energy. The best way to ensure these devices aren’t able to use even the smallest amount of electricity while in standby mode is by completely unplugging them.
Forgetting to turn your lights off
If you are serious about saving energy, then you need to take stock of the bad habits you’ve developed over time. Perhaps the most common mistake homeowners make that leads to energy waste is leaving lights on in rooms that they aren’t in. This problem is extremely prevalent in homes where teens and small children are. Leaving lights on in multiple rooms you aren’t using can make your energy bill rise.
There are a variety of ways to make turning off lights in rooms you aren’t in easier. The best way to simplify this process is by investing in a smart home system. These systems allow you to program your lights. This means you can determine when the lights in your home come on and go off. A smart home system also allows you to effortlessly control your security alarm. Before buying a smart home system, be sure to do some research to ensure you get a product that is reputable and easy to use.
Avoid washing your clothes in hot water
A functional water heater is a luxury many homeowners take for granted. While water heaters are great appliances, they can also use a lot of energy. If you want to lower home energy consumption rates, then you need to be mindful of your clothes washing practices. Some people wash their clothing in hot water out of habit.
If you are making this mistake, it is time to break this bad habit. Washing clothes in hot water uses are more energy than washing them in cold water. Not only does wash clothes in cold water save energy, it can also help to extend the life of your clothing. Washing in cold water prevents shrinking and minimizes fabric fading.
Failing to fix drafts
Allowing all of the air cooled or heated by your HVAC unit to escape can be disastrous. The longer your HVAC unit is overworked due to drafts, the harder it will be to keep it running. Overworked HVAC units tend to break down more frequently and wear out much faster. The first step in fixing your draft issues is identifying where these problems are.
When trying to identify the location of drafts, you need to check around your doors and windows. If you discover drafts in these areas, you can usually fix them with the help of a tube of caulk. If the caulk doesn’t fix these problems, you need to invest in new doors or windows. The cost of these new additions will be worth it due to the energy they can help you save in the future.
Allowing natural light to fill your home
Keeping your home cool during the summer months can be challenging. If you leave your curtains and blinds open during this time of year, the temperature inside your home will probably rise. This is why you need to work on controlling the amount of natural light that is allowed to enter your home. The best way to do this is by investing in high-quality curtains and blinds.
Final words
If you are currently making one or more of the mistakes mentioned in this article, it is time to make some changes.
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