You’ve decided to cut down on expenses while promoting sustainability. Congratulations! You
now shop at discount stores, wait for sales at your favorite clothing stores, or shop at
consignment stores. You use apps such as Gas Buddy to help find the cheapest gas in your
area and the Flashfood app to locate grocery specials for 50% off. So where are the deals and
coupons to save on water, natural gas, and electricity!? Turns out, you’ve had the ‘power’ to
save all along.
SHOP ‘TILL YOU DROP: Shop Around for Energy Suppliers. If you’re in a deregulated state,
use comparison sites like Apples to Apples (OH), Energybot (IL), or PA Power Switch (PA) to
find better rates for gas and electricity. Securing a fixed-rate electric supply rate with an energy
supplier that offers long-term pricing without early termination fees or monthly fees can lead to
savings in unpredictable energy markets.
BE SMART: Invest in a Smart Thermostat. These automatically adjust the heating and cooling
based on your schedule, helping to lower energy consumption. A smart thermostat can help you
save up to 8% on your energy bills. Adjusting your thermostat 7-10 degrees for 8 hours a day
can help save 10% annually.
CHILL OUT: Use a ceiling or table fan. Using a fan in the warmer months will allow you to
increase your air conditioner temperature up to 4 degrees without impacting your comfort, since
it creates a wind chill effect. Window draperies can reduce heat gains by 33% in the summer
and heat loss by 10% in the winter! During cooler months, reverse the spin of your ceiling fans
to a clockwise direction, which creates an updraft that circulates the warm air. This simple
change can help you feel warmer while using less energy to heat your home, potentially
reducing your heating bill.
BE A STAR: Purchase ENERGY STAR Appliances. If you are in the market for a new
appliance, you can earn rebates and save energy by installing qualifying ENERGY STAR
appliances like washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, and others. Using an ENERGY STAR
dishwasher is about 20% more energy efficient and 30% more water efficient than standard
models.
TIME TO UNPLUG: The phenomenon called “phantom energy loss” is when TVs, computers,
and gaming consoles draw power when they are in standby mode or turned off. This “vampire
energy” accounts for 15% or more of your home’s energy use. Unplug your toasters and hair
dryers and plug multiple appliances into one power strip and flip off one switch every night
before bed and watch for noticeable savings over time.
SWITCH IT UP: LED lighting will use up to 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than
traditional incandescent bulbs. So, make the switch slowly and watch your electric bills decline;
and since they last longer, your replacement costs will decrease too! If every American replaced
1 lightbulb with a more energy-efficient variety, we would save roughly $600 million in annual
energy costs and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year!
TAKE THE CREDIT: Take Advantage of Tax Credits. The Inflation Reduction Act empowers
Americans to make their home more energy-efficient by providing federal tax credits and
deductions for energy-efficient upgrades like insulation, windows, and doors. Homeowners may
qualify for a tax credit up to $3,200 annually and reduce energy costs and demand.
TIME OUT: Use Timers and Power-Saving Settings. Use timers on lights, activate power-saving
options on your TVs and computers, and turn off the “quick start” or “instant-on” option. It’s nice
that your TV or video game console can spring into action in a few seconds, but the energy grid
suffers in return. Setting ‘sleep mode’ on work/home computers & monitors can save up to $50
annually per computer!
SAVE DIRTY LAUNDRY: To avoid peak rates, save your dirty laundry for mornings or after 7
p.m. Washing with cold water, running larger loads, using the moisture sensor option on the
dryer, and cleaning your lint trap will help keep more money in your pockets.
DON’T DO THE WORK: Dishwasher vs. Handwashing. Running a dishwasher saves more
energy than washing dishes by hand because modern appliances are designed to use energy
and water efficiently. Using ENERGY STAR dishwashers can reduce your utility bills by an
average of $210 annually compared to handwashing, and running your dishwasher at off-peak
hours helps save on electricity costs.
These steps may seem small, but when combined, they can lead to big savings. Plus, many of
these strategies also reduce one’s carbon footprint overall! Now that’s Brilliant!
