5 Ways You’re Wasting Money on Heating and Cooling Costs

5 Ways You’re Wasting Money on Heating and Cooling Costs

Heating and cooling costs contribute to a large part of your monthly energy bill. Even though you regularly remember to turn off your appliances before you leave home, you may be still dealing with high energy costs. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a typical household spends about $112 a month on energy bills.

But have you considered inspecting your electricity bills, taking action to reduce the bills, and saving more energy? By cutting down on your energy waste, you can save money. If you’ve not identified your energy costs and worked to reduce it, the list below can show you the ways you’re wasting money on heating and cooling costs.

Improperly Caring for Your Heating and Cooling System

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When you reduce your home energy costs, you can tame your high energy bills. One way to do so is to change the clogged or dirty air filters in your system regularly. Another way to lessen the burden on your HVAC system is to keep blinds closed during the summer to keep your home cooler. Closing your blinds to keep out heat from entering your room can reduce your electricity bills up to 15 percent.

Using Older Kitchen Appliances

Operating older appliances can negatively effect your electricity bills. You can reduce these costs by switching to less energy-consuming equipment. When you want to buy new equipment, make sure you look for ways to purchase energy-efficiency appliances. For example, older appliances manufactured 15 years ago consume more energy than newer sophisticated ones.

Putting Up With Uninsulated Windows

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Your home may not be comfortable if you haven’t installed window coverings or insulated windows in your home. Detect and seal air leaks in places such as unfinished areas behind closets or cabinets and seams around chimneys. To reduce your energy bills during the winter, seal your home by applying weather-stripping to your windows and caulking gaps.

Keeping a High Water Heater Temperature

The most common source of energy consumption in the home is a water heater. The U.S. Department of Energy has noted that you can cut down on your heating costs by 22 percent if you turn down the temperature of your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

You also won’t be wasting money when you wash your clothes in cold water. By washing clothes with cold water, you can cut down on the energy the washing machine consumes. Air dry your clothes to further save electricity consumption and money.

Having Unused Appliances Wasting Energy

You are wasting kilowatt hours of electricity when you keep unused electronics and appliances plugged in and turned on. Video game consoles, battery chargers, and microwave ovens are some of these energy consumers. To combat that energy loss, place energy-consuming devices on the same power strip. You’ll be able to cut them all off at once with an easy flip of a switch.

You can cut down on your heating and cooling costs by changing the ways you consume energy with the easy lifestyle changes listed above. You will discover that a few changes will boost not only your bank balance, but also your home. You can use the electricity calculator texas to know your electricity usage and how much your electricity bill will be.