It is never a bad time to be conscious of your budget! Utilities bills seem to get more expensive every month. During summer, you keep the air conditioning running to cool down the house and during winter, you focus on keeping it warm and cozy. While it feels great at the time, it’s hard to feel good when you see the bill. There are plenty of upgrades you can make and recommendations we can give to save you money, but these are our list of great ways to save energy and save money that won’t cost a fortune!

Smart, Money Saving Tips

Small changes in the products you use and a little bit of work that you can do yourself can contribute to saving money every year. Here are a few things that you can do in your home without any help!

Light Bulbs

Whether or not you like or dislike the appearance of an LED light you cannot argue with the energy efficiency of them. An LED light bulb that has received an Energy Star Certification uses up to 90% less energy than a standard bulb, lasts more than 15 times longer, and can save $55 in energy costs over the cost of the life of the light bulb. That’s not even all the benefits that the single lightbulb offers. Imagine replacing all of the lights in your home with these.

Smart Power Strips

Did you know that even if you are not using your electronics they are still using electricity? Even if they are in standby mode or turned off entirely. The Department of Energy estimates that standby energy uses account for 5 to 10 percent of residential energy use and can cost homeowners an additional $100 dollars every year. Smart power strips can shut off the electricity to plugged-in appliances when they are not on. They can even be assigned times to turn on and off so everything is ready to use when you come home from work.

Air Filters

If you have not cleaned or replaced your air filter in some time here is your reminder! Using old and dirty filters can put additional strain on your air systems meaning it is using more energy and more money to heat or cool your house. If it is running all day, that’s a lot of power.

Wash Using Cold

Washing clothes is a weekly task. You already know you have to use it, so make sure you are using it efficiently. Some estimates say up to 90% of all the energy used is just for heating the water. That’s a lot of energy to save by just using cold water. Luckily, washing in cold water may also prolong the life of your favorite clothes.

Make Changes Now and Save Money Later

If you are already thinking about these changes or made them already, you are ahead of the game! Small changes around your home can really add up over time for you. If you think it’s time to find all the ways you can make changes and upgrades to your home, contact your local, family-owned electricians at Pat Myers Electric! We will come out and provide you with a comprehensive overview of your electrical systems and make honest recommendations for the things you can change to be more efficient and save money.