In today’s economy, many homeowners are looking for any way possible to save, save, save. Fortunately, there are some very simple ways to save energy around the home. And less energy means less money.

You will be thanking us when you get your electricity bill next month!

Turn Off Lights: Let’s look at the facts. Did you know that lighting accounts for about 11% of a home’s energy bills? Turning off lights that are not needed will both extend the lifetime of those bulbs and cut your energy spending.

Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs: More light bulbs! Like we said already, lighting does account for 11% of your electric bills, so it is kind of a big issue. But lucky for you, we have another simple solution: CFLs. No, not the Canadian Football League, we are talking about compact fluorescent light bulbs. These energy efficient bulbs use about 75% less energy than your standard incandescent bulbs. Pretty neat, huh?

Motion Sensors: Installing motion sensors is a smart solution to your energy woes. Now lights will automatically turn on and off when you enter or leave a room. No more flipping a switch…let technology do the work for you.

Turn Off Your Computer: Your computer uses energy even in sleep or hibernation mode. The only way to truly stop its energy guzzling is to turn it off. And turning off your computer every night can save you an average of $90 of electricity a year.

Time to Get a Laptop: Not only are they more convenient than desktops, but they draw 15 to 25 watts during use, compared to the 150 watts by a desktop computer and monitor.

Energy Monitor: Consider purchasing an advanced energy monitoring device. These nifty contraptions will actually track your home’s energy use in real time. And according to one company, you can save 15 – 20% on each bill with the help of one of these devices.

Energy Audit: Home much energy do you currently use? A home energy audit will help you determine how much energy you are using and will identify ways to reduce it through better insulation and other such home improvement techniques.

Programmable Thermostat: The average household spends $2,200 a year on energy bills, about half of which goes to heating and cooling. Using a programmable thermostat properly can save you an average of around $180 a year. These thermostats offer four pre-programmed setting to regulate your home’s temperature, whether you are at home, asleep or away. You can use these settings or customize your settings as appropriate. The key is to establish a program that reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don’t need it.

So what are you waiting for? Get to work and start saving!

If you have any questions, contact Farnen & Dermer by calling 410-902-0020 or click here today!

Nobody likes surprises, especially when it comes to money. At Farnen and Dermer, we treat our customers the way we like to be treated with upfront and honest information about repair costs.

We provide quality service all over Maryland, from Baltimore City and Baltimore County to Owings Mills, Reisterstown, and everywhere in between. Our professionally-trained staff is fully equipped to handle all of your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system and comfort accessory questions.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Sources:

7 Ways to Save Energy