Although we are now saving money on gas and eating out, we need to remember to focus on how to conserve energy and expenses at home. Here are some helpful hints from my Realtor Magazine:
1. Turn off electronics when not in use. Keeping gadgets on constantly will add to your electricity bill. Consumer electronics and common devices can account for 23% of the average electricity bill—or about $322 annually, according to Sense. Place printers, PCs, laptops, home entertainment equipment, and gaming systems on power strips. Turn them off when not in use.
2. Swap out every incandescent light bulb.Incandescent bulbs can use up to 70% more energy than LEDs. They can be all over your home—inside your fridge and your oven and outdoors such as porch lights.
3. Turn off extra appliances.Consider consolidating food into a single refrigerator. Particularly older fridge or freezer models can be energy hogs.
4. Keep your refrigerator maintained. Vacuum the condenser coils, inspect and clean the door gaskets for a proper seal, and check the temperature setting (at or below 40 degrees for fridge and 0 for the freezer), Sense recommends.
5. Clean the dryer vent. Lint collects in the dryer vent and can make your dryer less efficient. Blocked vents can also become a fire hazard.
6. Line dry your clothes outside. If you have a warm day, line dry your clothes or set the dryer on a delicate cycle to use less energy.
7. Turn off your coffee maker.Coffee makers may have a warming mode to allow them to stay on for a prolonged time. That could add up to $60 annually on your electricity bill, Sense says.
Source: Sense.com