As the days shorten and the temperatures gradually drop, people all throughout the country can look forward to increasing energy bills. Lighting and heating your property throughout the months of late fall and winter could wind up costing you in the thousands, especially if you happen to be reckless. So… stop being reckless! Following are 4 ways to reduce your power bill this season
1. Unplug your appliances
Most people are not aware of the fact that their appliances and devices are still drawing power, even after they’ve been turned of. Things like stereos, home theater equipment and televisions actually function in a standby mode whenever they’re left plugged in and can draw about as much energy as a standard 100 watt light bulb. By simply unplugging each individual device or simply turning your power strips off, you can save approximately 10 every month on electricity.
2. Put computers to sleep
A computer, much like your car engine, tends to use far more energy when shutting down or starting up than it does if you just leave it running continuously, but in a low-power mode. Rather than shutting computers down entirely, put these in hibernation mode when you’re done using them. Given that you won’t have to boot your machine up as often, you’ll save money on your electricity bill, and you’ll also wind up saving a lot of time.
3. Use a small space heater
Stop cranking your thermostat up each time your property gets chilly. You can warm your bedroom up in mere minutes with a small space heater, and when these portable units are used wisely, they can cut your monthly heating bill by hundreds of dollars. These can often be found at department stores for 20 or less.
4. Pay for a window upgrade
Does your home have argon-filled, double pane windows? If not, this could be a very worthwhile investment. In addition to saving you 9.8 tons of heat each year, these additions can also raise the value of your home by quite a bit. While the weather might be extreme this season, this doesn’t mean that you have to break the proverbial bank in order to pay your electricity bill. By using the right strategies for properly insulating your home and unplugging your unused devices and appliances, you can preserve the value of your property and keep some cash in your pocket.