With summer ending and cooler weather on the way, now is a great time to start thinking about tackling some easy, inexpensive ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home or rental and reduce your energy bills.
According to the Environmental Center, a Bend organization focused on sustainable energy, ‘small changes can make a big difference. For instance, for every degree you lower your thermostat, you can save 3% on your heating costs. And by setting your thermostat to 60 – 62 degrees at night, you can really start to dial in the savings!’
Here are a few low or no-cost ideas designed to make your home more energy efficient and lower your monthly bills.
Weather stripping: Doors and windows are likely the biggest culprit of heat loss in your home. At Home Depot, weather stripping for a door will cost between $6 - $25, depending on the type you choose. And a 17 ft. roll of foam tape for windows starts as low at $2.50. And installation is easy: cut to size, pull off the sticky backing and press into place. That’s it!
Water heater: Turning down the temperature 10 degrees on your hot water heater saves 3% - 5% on energy costs and a drop from 140 F to 120 F saves you 6% - 10% percent. In most homes, the default setting on the water heater is 140 degrees, so turning it down can save big money on energy.
Washing clothes: Switching to cold water for washing clothes helps in two ways: by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and lowering energy usage. The Sierra Club estimates that each household can save over 1,600 lbs of carbon dioxide emissions by switching to cold water washing. In addition, washing clothes in cold water can reduce energy use by 75%!
LED light bulbs: According to the Environmental Center in Bend, LEDs use 80% less energy than your standard incandescent light bulbs, potentially saving $100+ on your energy bills.
You can sign up to receive your free LED light bulbs from the Bend Energy Challenge. This program includes Redmond, Tumalo and Bend and offers applicants up to 16 LED lights for their home - for free!
Power down/unplug devices: According to the US Dept. of Energy, most homes spend $1,900 a year on energy costs and 5% - 10% of your electricity is wasted by devices that are plugged in 24 hours a day. While many appliances only use low levels of electricity, others such as computers and TVs, consume a lot more power, even in standby mode. And the cumulative effect of so many devices plugged in around the clock can really add up.
Get an energy assessment: The most complete action you can take to reduce energy use in your home is an energy assessment. It is a series of diagnostics for your home by a qualified contractor on more than 100 points of data to identity what improvements will give you the biggest ROI. The primary goal of an energy assessment is to understand how your home is using and losing energy allowing you to make better decisions on home improvement that will save energy. Sign up for an energy assessment today.
Thermostat: As mentioned above, turning down the thermostat can make a big difference as well. But by taking it one step further and installing a smart thermostat, like a Nest, you can really save big time. According to the Flannel Guy ROI, even at a cost of $250, a smart thermostat will pay for itself halfway through year two and over 10 years will save you over $1,200!