A new year is the perfect time to reset more than just your calendar — it’s also an excellent opportunity to develop smart habits that can help lower your energy use all year long. At Heartland REMC, we’re committed to helping members save energy, and the good news is that you don’t need to make major changes to see a real impact. Sometimes, it’s the simple things that add up the most over time.

One of the easiest changes you can make is switching out old lightbulbs for LED options. They use a fraction of the energy that incandescent bulbs consume and last much longer, making them a smart and affordable upgrade. In the laundry room, consider washing your clothes in cold water. Most of the energy used in a wash cycle is devoted to heating the water, so going cold not only saves energy, but it’s also gentler on your fabrics.

Many people are surprised to learn how much power is wasted by devices that are turned off but still plugged in. These so-called “energy vampires” include everything from phone chargers and coffee makers to gaming consoles and streaming devices. To combat this, try plugging multiple devices into a smart power strip, allowing you to easily switch them off when not in use.

Your thermostat also plays a huge role in overall usage, especially during peak winter and summer months. Setting your thermostat to 68 F during the day in winter — and a bit lower while you’re sleeping or away — can help reduce your bill without sacrificing comfort. In the summer, bumping it up to 78 F while you’re home and using ceiling fans to circulate the air can make a noticeable difference. Also, remember that ceiling fans can help year-round. In the winter, set your fan to spin clockwise to push warm air back down into the room. In summer, reverse the blades to create a cooling breeze.

Lastly, tracking your energy use can help you stay on top of things and spot problems early. The HREMC App makes it easy to monitor your daily or monthly energy use so you can see when and where your habits are paying off and adjust when needed.

By adopting just a few of these habits, you can take control of your energy use and create long-term savings without sacrificing comfort.