Energy-saving ideas for your home

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Posted on Jan 28 2023 in Features, Heartland REMC

Small steps can add up to significant reductions in electricity use — which will also help you save on your electric bill. These five ideas are simple to implement but will lead to energy conservation and cost reduction down the line.

Switch to LED lighting

Traditional incandescent bulbs consume a good deal of electricity and can burn out quickly. Modern LED bulbs typically last much longer and only use a fraction of the energy that incandescent bulbs do.

Seal air leaks

Air leaks make it more difficult to maintain a consistent home temperature, and your heater will expend additional energy trying to compensate. Look out for small gaps near your doors, baseboards, outlets and access panels, and use caulk to seal up those spaces. You can also place mobile stoppers in front of your doors and windows.

Insulate windows and doors

Drafty windows and doors are a big cause of home energy inefficiency. Drafts often occur in the cracks between the components of your windows, but weatherstripping can be used for areas where a window’s movable parts meet the window frame. These materials are readily available, low-cost and easy to apply.

Unplug “energy vampires”

Just because an appliance is turned off doesn’t mean that it’s not consuming energy. Unplug devices such as phone and computer chargers, coffee makers and rechargeable vacuums when they’re not in use or charging. You can also plug them into an energy-saving surge protector power strip that can detect when a device is in standby mode and will cut off the power.

Clean or replace air filters

Dirty air filters can make your system work harder and run longer than necessary, so don’t forget to clean or replace your filters. Set a calendar reminder to check your filters once a month, and then replace when needed — typically about every 90 days.