It’s hard to believe, but 2012 is almost here. It’s time for New Year’s resolutions and a fresh start. So why not have a fresh start with your home’s energy consumption? Saving energy not only helps lower your electric bill, but it helps the planet, too. There are tons of ways to start conserving energy in and around the home, but here are some simple ways to start making gradual changes as the New Year approaches.
Have a professional conduct an energy audit. One of the best ways to start fresh with your energy consumption in 2012 is to take inventory. Take a look at your electric bill and bring in a professional to conduct an energy audit to see where you are using the most energy and where you can cut back.
Change how you heat/cool your home. How you use your air conditioner and how you heat your home makes a big difference in your energy consumption and in the numbers you see on your electric bill each month. Keeping your thermostat in the mid-70s and keeping your shades drawn in rooms you are not using are good ways to save energy. The less time is takes to cool a room (one that has the blinds open and the sun shining in on, for example), the less energy your air conditioner has to use to generate and distribute the cool air.
Replace your light bulbs. If you haven’t already, make it a point to go around your home and replace every light bulb you can with more energy efficient light bulb options. For example, ENERGY STAR light bulbs use around 75% less energy than the typical incandescent bulbs, and they’re also safer, producing around 75% less heat than traditional bulbs.
