It can get expensive trying to manage the heating and cooling expenses of your Brooklyn home or business. Even with baseboards installed to avoid the cost of a furnace, you could be spending hundreds, or thousands, of dollars in wasted energy.
If you are ready to make your money work harder for you, here are some simple ways to help you keep more of your hard-earned cash.
Best Ways to Save Money By Reducing Energy Use
1. Keep the vents and filters clean in your HVAC system.
If you have vents at home, there’s an excellent chance that they look less than pretty. Some have filters that are probably clogged with at least a month’s worth of dust. You need to keep these items clean to ensure the hot or cold air blows out when needed.
Most filters need to get changed or cleaned every 30 days to maintain the correct level of air movement at home. If you use a window unit in an apartment, follow the servicing instructions in your owner’s manual.
2. Use your thermostat wisely.
When you can change your comfort levels by a single degree warmer or colder during the summer or winter, that effort creates a 1% savings on the average utility bill. If you can push that change to ten degrees, you’ve 10% coming back your way. Getting $20 extra from a $200 statement might not seem like much, but it turns into a savings of $240 for the year.
Having a smart thermostat to regulate these settings helps you maximize the savings potential. You could also manually set the temperature to reflect the cash you want to save.
3. Start unplugging everything.
Any device that stays plugged in during the day creates a power draw. All of your electronics contribute to a higher bill. If you want to save some serious cash, unplug everything you don’t use until it is needed.
If this idea seems unreasonable, consider investing in a smart power strip to do the job for you.
4. Replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient options.
Replacing the five fixtures you use most often with energy-efficient products can save you about $50 per year. The best option to use is LED bulbs, although the cost of those items can get a little high for some fixture types.
It is essential to remember that not every bulb needs to get replaced immediately. Try to update the first five right away. When the other ones burn out, that’s the perfect time to upgrade.
5. Use dryer balls for your laundry.
If you have a washer and dryer at home, use a product called “dryer balls” for the last stage of your laundry. This product cuts the drying time of your clothing by up to 25% without damaging your apparel, towels, or blankets.
Take dryer balls with you to the laundromat to cut down on the quarters you spend. A savings of $0.50 per load starts adding up quickly when looked at as an annual expense.
6. Upgrade or update your appliances.
Although the cost of a new appliance can be significant, the money saved by using less energy could help some products pay for themselves in a few years. If you cannot afford the expense right now, consider waiting for a Black Friday or mid-Summer sale to bring home what you need at a better price.
You can shop for upgraded used appliances at thrift stores, the Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and other trusted second-hand platforms.
7. Review the quality of your home’s insulation.
Can you see the support beams in your attic? If so, that means your home needs more insulation. Any ductwork that looks clean indicates that you have a leaking joint that allows air to escape.
Patching up your HVAC system and installing the appropriate R-value insulation for NYC’s building codes could save a remarkable amount of energy.
8. Warm up or cool down outside of the peak times.
The highest energy use in Brooklyn tends to happen mid-afternoon in the summer and during the morning in winter. If you can avoid these times, the energy you do use may become less expensive.
How Could You Start Saving Money Today?
Are you ready to take control of the energy consumption happening at your home or business? If you need help tackling one of these improvements, King Installation is here to help. We can inspect your home, provide recommendations, and follow all current safety protocols.
You work hard for your money. It should do the same for you! Start by addressing these issues today to see how far down your utility bill could go.
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