Homes use a lot of energy. But just how much does it cost to run your home? The team at A+ Insulation wondered the same thing, so we’re breaking it down for you. As a homeowner, here is where the bulk of your money goes when it comes to energy bills. We looked at a 2013 study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for reference. Here’s how it broke down:
How to Save the Most Money on Energy Bills
We can’t live, at least, not very comfortably, without using energy. If you’re looking to lower your energy bills, there are few things you can do in each area of your home to help:
29% Heating – Obviously, heating takes the lion’s share of the energy/money. To really find out where your home is leaking energy, it’s best to have a home energy audit. From there, it’s important to insulate and seal your home to keep heated air inside. Also, remember to close the fireplace damper when not in use.
21% Electronics (computers, TVs, DVD players, home office equipment, small appliances) – Since over a fifth of your energy usage goes to electronics, one way for homeowners to cut back on energy use is to unplug appliances. Many appliances suck energy, even when not in use. This is sometimes called “vampire” energy usage or “phantom power”. Phantom power consumes 5% of all residential energy use in the United States.
13% Cooling – Once again, finding out where your home is leaking through an energy audit will help keep cool air from escaping. Make sure you have sufficient insulation and that your ducts are sealed, especially in unconditioned areas like garages, basements and crawl spaces.
13% Water Heating – There are two things you can do to lower your water heating bill. One: Lower the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees. Two: Wrap your water heater in an insulating blanket to make it more efficient.
12% Appliances (refrigerator, dishwasher, washer & dryer) – Only wash full loads when using the dishwasher or clothes washer. Use warm or cold settings instead of hot whenever possible. Also, hang dry any items that don’t need to be tumbled dry to prevent wrinkles. Old refrigerators that are retired to the garage or basement for extra cold storage can cost $100 or more per year in energy use.
12% Lighting – The single most energy-saving action you can take is to switch all of your light bulbs from traditional incandescent to CFL or LED. These types of bulbs use a fraction of the energy, and even though they cost more initially to purchase, they will save you money on lighting bills over time and last much, much longer.