There are a lot of costs that go along with owning a home. You have your mortgage, maintenance, taxes and several others. One of the most expensive of the bunch can be your energy bills every month. This is especially true if you constantly have the lights on, the heat running or are constantly using your appliances. As a result, many people are interested in finding ways to cut these costs. One great way is by going green and using less energy in the first place.
In addition to cutting costs, going green can also be great for the environment. Unfortunately, not everyone knows the steps they should be taking in order to help their home go green. With that in mind, this blog post is going to provide a couple of tips on how to cut your energy expenses, while also making your home more eco-friendly.
Consider a New Provider
One of the first things to consider if you want to lower your energy expenses is to consider a new provider. Whether you live in Houston, or another city in an area with deregulated energy, don’t hesitate to consider other options. This can be quite easy, and you can check the lowest electricity rates in Houston right from your computer.
With a little bit of research, you should be able to see if you are getting a good deal or if there is a better deal out there. Some providers might even have more efficient and green choices for you to take advantage of. Once you switch providers, it’s also a good idea to remain more cognizant about how much you are using energy in your day to day life.
Use Efficient Appliances
(via: https://pixabay.com/photos/washing-machine-laundry-tumble-drier-2668472/)
Changing up the appliances in your home to energy efficient models is another way to reduce your costs and go green. All different types of appliances have efficient models out in the market such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, fridges and several others. Sure, these appliances will have an upfront cost for you, but they will often pay for themselves over time.
Many will use much less energy than their traditional counterparts, which can both help the environment and reduce your costs. These will work just as well, if not better, than traditional models as well. In some areas, there are also rebates available to those who are using efficient appliances.
Change Up Your Light Bulbs
While your lights might seem like a small part of your overall energy usage, this often isn’t the case. Sure, each bulb is small, but if you have a dozen on in your home for hours every day, the costs can surely add up. Not to mention that several traditional or incandescent bulbs use a ton of energy.
As a result, it is often a good choice to change your light bulbs to more modern LED bulbs that use a fraction of the energy that older versions do. Not only do they use far less energy (about 75% less), they can last around 25 times longer than older bulbs, meaning much less fussing around with changing light bulbs for you in the future. While they are more expensive than traditional bulbs, many can still be purchased for only a couple of dollars.
Going green at home is a great way to not only cut your energy costs, but also help to protect the environment. By going with a new provider, using efficient appliances around the home, and changing up your light bulbs, you can be well on your way to an eco-friendly home.
