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5 Hacks to Save on Your Water and Power Bills This Summer

Jun 22, 2017 5:33:00 PM

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Do you want to save money on your utility bills this spring and summer? Silly question, right? Who wouldn't want to curb costs where they can to have more expendable income lying around? The good news is that there are a lot of fairly simple things that you can do around the house to better conserve water and electricity. And while they may not add up to a significant savings on an individual basis, when multiple conservation strategies are put into place, it's not uncommon for homeowners to see a real difference in their energy and water bills over time. 

So just what can you do to cut utilities costs and not be inconvenienced? Here's a look at some life hacks to try out this summer:

Smart Lawn Watering

We all want our grass to look green and lush all summer long, so it's natural to run the sprinklers to ensure that the lawn is receiving an adequate amount of water to facilitate this. Many homes, however, are either over-watering or wasting water when it comes to their sprinkler systems. According to Popular Mechanics, homeowners should integrate a rain sensor into their sprinkler system to avoid wasting water when the lawn doesn't need it. Additionally, homeowners should make sure that sprinklers aren't spraying onto driveways, streets, patios or other areas that don't need it to avoid wasting water. Finally, it's always best to water early in the morning or late in the evening when winds are low and temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.

Use Windows Wisely

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends enacting a strategic creature comfort tactic by simply being smart with home windows. Ideal for during the spring months when temperatures still get cool and comfortable over night, homeowners can shut of air conditioning units and open the windows at night. This will permit cool air to flow through the home. In the morning, shut the windows to keep the cool, comfortable air inside. It'll likely be a while before you're forced to kick the air conditioning back on for the day. On a side note, you can also install window coverings or window treatments to maximize interior comfort. New windows may also be a solution, as today's advanced engineered designs are better insulated to prevent heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer.

Wash in Cold Water

Lifehack says that up to 90 percent of the energy that a washing machine uses is the process of heating up the water inside of it. What's more is that it's very likely that cold water will do just as good of a job in most washing situations as hot water. Noting this, why use the energy? Wash in cold water and watch your energy bills go down over time. As a bonus, air dry your clothes on an outdoor clothesline, rather than in the gas or electric dryer.

Ceiling Fans for the Win

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Ceiling fans use about as much energy as a light bulb, and they can make a huge difference in the comfort level in a room. Flip them on in the rooms that they're installed in to keep temperatures cool and comfortable, while limiting the use of the air conditioning system.

Water Conservation Tips

There are so many other impactful ways to conserve water, so we decided to dedicate some time to these various simple initiatives. For instance, when taking a hot shower, there's always a period of water run time as we wait for it to heat up. Why not put a bucket under the faucet to capture this cold water and put it to use for something else, like watering your flowers or washing produce? You can even install rain capture systems within your gutter downspouts to generate a natural collection of water to use to feed your lawn, plants, etc. Rainwater won't cost you any money toward your water bill to use, so consider doing what you can to minimize usage of the hose. 

Final Thoughts

Like we said in the opening, if you only decide to do one or two of the tactics listed above, you're likely to see little difference in your utility bills. But when you commit to conserving energy and water, and enact the hacks that can help you do this, you'll notice a real difference in your home bills. For more information on how to conserve water and electricity, contact us today.

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