HVAC Tips / November 2, 2022
Home Energy Saving Tips to Lower Your Electric Bill
Increased time spent at home means a corresponding uptick in power usage for your computer while Increased time spent at home means a corresponding uptick in power usage for your computer while working from home, for your TV and other devices used for entertainment, and for lighting and climate controlling your house. More power usage leads to an increase in the cost of your electric bill – the last thing anyone needs during these tough times.
If the recent increase in time spent at home has you worrying about rising home electric bills during these tough times, SDG&E offers an Energy Management Tool that can show you an overview of your energy use, forecasted bills for the month, and more.
In addition to using SDG&E’s Energy Management tool, discover some of the best energy-saving tips you can do for your home. These include:
8 Energy-Saving Tips for Your Home
- Use Natural Sunlight
- Adjust Your Water Heater Temperature
- Replace Showerheads & Faucets
- Using ENERGY STAR appliances and light bulbs
- Unplug Unused Appliances
- Weatherizing your home
- Maintaining or updating your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system
- Installing solar panels
Use Natural Sunlight
Make the most of natural sunlight this winter by opening your windows to warm up your home. Even more, close window covers in rooms that get no direct sunlight.
Adjust Your Water Heater Temperature
Set your water heater to 120 degrees; it’s easy and a quick fix. Your water heater won’t have to work tirelessly if it’s set at a lower-than-average temperature. The temperature control settings on water heaters either display low, medium, high, or the actual temperature. Think about turning down your water heater to a slightly cooler setting to reduce the amount of energy used to heat the water. As a matter of fact, each time you lower the temperature by 10 degrees, you’ll save roughly 3 percent on your water heating costs. That’s a savings of $7 to $10 per year! For a small investment, you can even add a water heater blanket to your water heater tank, which will insulate the tank and reduce the energy consumption used to sustain warm water in the tank.
Replace Showerheads & Faucets
Install showerheads and faucets that are water efficient. Believe it or not, it really makes a difference! At 1.8 gallons per minute, water-efficient showerheads can reduce your hot water consumption by as much as 9%. You’ll see savings of up to $5 per year for a sink faucet and $20+ per year for a showerhead.
Choose ENERGY STAR Appliances and Lighting
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, your home’s appliances and electronics account for close to 20% of your energy bills, and about 10% of the energy your home uses goes to lighting costs. Replacing appliances with ENERGY STAR-certified products can help lower water and energy consumption by 10-15%, making them good for both the environment and your wallet. ENERGY STAR light bulbs offer further savings; compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs can yield as much as 75% energy savings and last six-times longer. You can get even more energy savings, a longer life span, and less wasted heat by switching to ENERGY STAR LEDs.
Unplug Unused Appliances
When people visit from out of town, you might use that waffle maker you have been dying to try out or plugin that slide projector to enjoy some old pictures. However, many appliances consume small amounts of power when they aren’t in use, which is why you should unplug unused appliances instead of letting them sit turned off until the next day.In fact, the Department of Energy estimates that between 5% and 10% of your total residential energy is used by appliances that are plugged in but not currently being used. Televisions, DVD players, coffee makers, toasters, and even lamps can all play into the problem, so pay attention to which appliances you could unplug for the time being. If guests bring electronics like blow dryers, electric blankets, or cell phone chargers with them, ask people to unplug them after use to prevent excess power consumption.
Weatherize Your Home
Are you wasting energy and money heating or cooling your home without properly weatherizing it? About 40 percent of your heating and cooling energy slips through your home’s cracks. Home weatherization includes air sealing and adding insulation.
Air sealing
- Caulking cracks around door and window frames
- Weatherstripping doors help prevent indoor air from leaking out and outside air from leaking into your home.
Reducing air leakage is a simple, cost-effective way of reducing heating and cooling costs during these tough times.
Proper insulation
- Helps reduce heat flow into or out of your home, thus reducing the amount of energy required to maintain your desired interior temperature.
- A professional technician can help you determine what type of insulation you need and where you need it, as well as help install it.
Maintain or Update Your HVAC System
The best way to keep your HVAC system operating at peak energy efficiency is regular maintenance performed by a trained professional. While HVAC maintenance is probably the last thing on your mind during this crisis, a well-maintained HVAC unit performs better and more reliably, using less energy than a less well-maintained unit. However, even with regular maintenance, ordinary wear and tear throughout your heating and air conditioning system’s life will eventually lower your unit’s efficiency.
Older HVAC systems have to work harder for longer to provide the same level of comfort they once did, leading to higher energy bills. If your energy costs are rising and your unit is on the older side, it may be time for an upgrade to a newer, more efficient HVAC system. Mauzy Heating, Air & Solar are San Diego’s premier residential heating and air experts, providing both HVAC maintenance and new system installation services.
Install Solar Panels
For even larger energy savings, plus environmental sustainability, consider installing solar panels in your home. Adding a solar energy system benefits you with lower electric bills, protection against rising energy costs, and increased property value, in addition to the environmental benefits of decreased pollution and reduced reliance on non-renewable energy sources. You may also benefit from a tax credit for going green with solar energy.
Contact Mauzy for Your HVAC & Solar Needs Today!
If you are looking to make bigger changes to your home to help cut down on energy costs such as heating, air & solar, Mauzy’s got you covered. Mauzy is San Diego’s premier residential expert, providing both HVAC maintenance and new system installation services. There is no better solar power contractor qualified to assist you with adding solar panels to your home.
