Your heating system may be taking the summer off, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do more to lower your energy bill. Reducing energy costs in the home is not just a wintertime concern. There are many products available to help you to start saving energy right now. Whether you are planning to renovate or you just want to stop in to our store and pick a few things up to make a difference, we’ve put together a list of ideas and products that can quickly and effectively put you on the road to savings.
Daylighting
If you’re planning to do some remodeling anyway, consider Daylighting. What is that? Daylighting is the use of natural sunlight to brighten and warm a home’s interior. Look for rooms where you can make the greatest use of natural light to reduce dependence on electricity. Consider widening existing windows or installing skylights and let the sun’s natural light fill your home. Tunnel lights are another excellent Daylighting option. With a tunnel light (also known as a tubular skylight), you can channel the suns light from outside into the parts of your house normal skylights couldn’t reach. Hallways, closets, stairways, bathrooms and more can be lit by the sun’s light, rather than ticking up your electric bill using regular bulbs.
Make Your Own Shade
Awnings have many benefits both inside and outside of your home. On the outside they can extend your living space and provide cool shade to relax in. On the inside, they can offer considerable energy savings. When installed above windows, they shade the interior of your home, which can protect your furniture and décor from the sun’s UV rays. This shade cans also cool your home as much as fifteen degrees, depending on the type of awning and the placement. In addition, window air conditioners operate more efficiently when out of the direct sun.
Save Money On-Demand
Tankless (or On-Demand) water heaters can be the best choice for energy savings in most situations. No storage tank is required, meaning there is no ‘stand-by’ loss by having to constantly keep a large tank of water at the same constant temperature. Their operation is simple: Once a faucet is opened, a sensor activates the unit and water is immediately heated to the desired temperature. This continues until the faucet is closed and the sensor shuts the heater down. Keep in mind that smaller units have limitations and may not be able to keep up with washing closes and taking a shower at the same time, for example. Stop in and see us and we can help you determine which size and type is the best fit for your situation.
Dry and Cool
“Yeah, but it’s a dry heat.” Have you ever heard that expression used? It may be cliché, but it’s also true. Using a dehumidifier during the warm, humid months can make a big difference. Less humidity will help you feel cooler, thus enabling you to use a higher setting on the air conditioner and save energy. Keep in mind that a dehumidifier works better when air can circulate freely through, so make sure to place it away from walls and bulky objects.
Quick Fixes
Want to make a difference in your bill with only a few small changes? Consider the following:
• Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (commonly called CFL bulbs) can make a big difference and all that you need to do is swap one with a regular incandescent bulb. A 13 watt CFL bulb is equal to a 60 watt incandescent bulb, saving you 47 watts!
• LED lighting is becoming a popular choice for track, under-the-counter and holiday lighting applications. Though the initial cost may be higher, LED lights use 10 times less energy and last up to 50 times longer than traditional incandescent lights.
• Sometimes small appliances can save big. Consider a toaster oven or a microwave for small jobs. Less energy will be used, and why heat up the kitchen with an conventional oven in July and just make the air conditioner work harder?
• An outdoor grill is a great energy saving choice. Not only are they inexpensive to run, you’re not heating up the inside of your home.
• Low flow showerheads and faucet aerators can save water and energy, because less of your heated water goes down the drain.
New energy saving products are emerging all the time. Give us a call or stop in and we’ll be glad to discuss which choices make the most sense for you and your home.