Besides the snow and colder weather, one thing that comes with winter is an increase in your household energy bill. This may seem inevitable due to increased use of lighting and heating, but did you know that there are a few ways that can help you reduce the drastic increase in cost? Take a look at some tips below from Jaycox Industries on how to reduce your energy bill (some can even help all year round!):
- Get an energy audit:
While you can get professional energy audits, you can also do this yourself. The audit will involve inspecting all areas of your home to determine ways to save energy and reduce costs. Start by looking for open spaces around doors or windows where hot air may escape in the winter (or cool air in the summer), check your insulation levels, change the filters in your heating and cooling systems, and checking the wattage on your light bulbs. While this can be beneficial to do yourself, you can also hire professionals to audit your home, and many utility companies will even provide one for free. - Add caulking and weatherstrips to doors and windows:
This is one of the easiest things you can do to reduce energy bills. When your windows are doors are not properly sealed, warm air can escape easily around the edges while brisk winter air flows in the other way (or vice versa in the summer). By sealing these cracks, you are saving your heating and cooling systems extra work, and can reduce your bill by as much as 20%!
- Install a digital thermostat in your home:
When you have a daily routine, you are often not at home for a number of hours each day. A digital thermostat allows you to set your heating and cooling systems to only engage when you need them to – ie. when you are at home. For less than $100, you can purchase a digital thermostat, which you can program to match your daily life. Just doing this can save you 10-15% on your heating and cooling bills annually. Remember while programming to consider the routines of all individuals and pets in your home so that they do not suffer from the temperature changes. - Inquire about other pricing plans:Depending on your area, some utility providers will offer different energy plans for different price ranges. Others may offer contract style plans that save you money if you stay with them for a period of time.
- Change the installation in your attic and exterior walls:
You can save up to 30% on heating and cooling costs by simply adding more insulation to your attic or exterior walls. You may choose to purchase insulation yourself or hire a service to install it for you. It should be noted that while you may be able to do attic insulation yourself, exterior wall insulation may be more tricky and should be done by professionals.
- Install new lightbulbs:
This may sound like a simple fix, and it really is. By changing all of the lightbulbs in your home to new energy efficient bulbs (LED or Fluorescent), you can save more energy than you think. This is not only good for your wallet, but for the environment too.
Thanks to Jaycox Industries for their tips. If you are in need of an electrician in Victoria BC, give them a call for all of your electrical needs.