Your house gives you so much: security, pride, shelter. It’s easy to assume the costs of keeping it up are just what they are, but there are plenty of expenses that can be a waste. Here are some tips for saving money each month with out putting your home value at risk:
Clean Your Light Bulbs
A dirty light bulb emits 30% less light than a clean one, so dust off the bulb and fixture. You might be able to cut back on the brightness of lights in each room without noticing any difference.
Keep Your Fridge Full
Solid items nestled together will retain the cold better and help keep each other cold which requires less energy overall.
Switch your Bulbs to LEDs
Replace just five of your most-used bulbs with efficient LED bulbs. You could save up to $75 a year on your energy bill and LEDs last 15 – 20 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
Use Power Strips
Appliances continue to suck power even when they’re off. Even your laptop continues drawing power even if the laptop isn’t plugged in. This can cost up to $100 year. Prevent this by connecting to an easy-to-switch-off power strip.
Use a Toaster Oven when Possible
Toaster ovens use 50 – 70% less energy than a full-size oven.
Set Your Water Heater to 120 Degrees
Factory settings on your water heater may be set higher than you need. By lowering the temperature setting by 10 degrees you can reduce your cost by 3 – 5%.
Wash Clothes in Cold Water
Switching from hot to warm water will cut every load’s energy use in half, so you’ll reap even more savings by taking the temperature down to cold. With the efficiency of today’s detergents, your clothes will get just as clean using cold water.
Use the Right Dryer Cycle
Almost all fabrics can be dried with a lower heat setting (such as a permanent press setting). This uses less energy and extends the life of your fabrics.
Use Homemade Cleaners
Commercial cleaning products often relay on baking soda or vinegar for their cleaning power. Why not make your own? Most homemade cleaners cost less than $1.
Article Courtesy of houselogic.com
Contributor: Amy Howell Hirt