Have your household energy and water bills been higher than you like recently? A few small changes around the house could have a big impact on your utility bills. Conserving energy and water at home also gives you the added bonus of going green and doing your part to save the environment. Some methods of saving energy require an initial investment, such as solar panels. Others require very little time and money to cut down on energy use. The following are a few simple ways to get started.
Ways to Conserve Energy
Most households will see their energy usage spike in the winter, when more heat is needed to warm the home. You can combat this by insulating your water heater to avoid heat loss. Put your thermostat on an automatic timer so that it’s not on during the day when your family’s at work or school. You can also turn it down at night, and use extra blankets instead of relying solely on your heater. These simple practices can save you up to 10% each year on your heating bills. In warm weather, try to minimize air conditioner use and run ceiling fans whenever possible.
Another way to save energy and lower bills is by turning off the lights whenever you leave the room. Switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs can make a big different in energy bills, because they give off less heat but just as much light as regular incandescent bulbs. This small investment can save a bundle. Take a look at your kitchen appliances and replace those that are particularly inefficient, choosing those with Energy-Star ratings instead. Installing an instant hot water tap can save you the energy of using an electric kettle each time you need to make a cup of tea.
Ways to Conserve Water
The type of appliances you have can also determine how much water you use. One of the biggest uses of water in any household is when washing dishes. Choose an energy-efficient dishwasher, and be sure to only run it when you have a full load. Scrape plates rather than rinsing them before putting them in the dishwasher, to save even more water. In the bathroom, repair any plumbing leaks as soon as you notice them. A single leaky toilet can waste over 900 litres of water each day! Shorten showers if possible, and turn off the water during shaving or brushing your teeth.
Rather than running the tap to wait for drinking water to cool down, install a water cooler to provide fresh, filtered water instantly. This also will save you money on purchasing bottled water if you don’t like the taste of what comes out of the tap. In the garden, water plants in the morning to allow more water to soak into the soil. More water evaporates during the middle of the day, when the sun is at its peak. Try to use dishwashing water or bathwater in the garden to reduce outdoor water consumption. You can also collect water in rain barrels for this purpose.
Although these are all small actions, they can really add up over time. By conserving water and electricity whenever possible, you may save a significant amount of money over the course of a year and do your part to help the environment at the same time.
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Canadian Budget Binder
March 7, 2013 at 10:35 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
There’s only 2 of us and we don’t have a dishwasher so we have to wash them by hand. I did install a water filter system so we can get fresh cold water any time. As for leaks, yes I’ve had those and fixed them straight away as like you mention it can add up to quite a bit over the course of a year.
Justin
March 8, 2013 at 9:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Leaks are certainly a hassle. We had a leaky toilet flange (I think that’s what they’re called) when we first moved into our house. I procrastinated for a while before fixing it, which was dumb. Once I replaced the flange, I noticed our water bill was consistently $2 a month less.
Jose
March 8, 2013 at 8:07 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
One of my favorites is the programmable thermostat, that in conjunction with a mattress warmer shaves a significant amount off of our electric bill! Another tip that should be considered is your computer, set it to go to sleep! Most desktops have power supplies that consume at least 250 Watts. That’s the equivalent of 15 CFL’s!
Justin
March 8, 2013 at 9:45 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We have the programmable thermostat, but I’ll have to check into a mattress warmer. My wife loves to have big piles of blankets, though.
Tackling Our Debt
March 8, 2013 at 3:05 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
All very good points that many of us overlook until the bills come in.
I know our heating bill will be lower this winter since we spend all day in our office in our basement with only the fireplace on. As for water, I am guilty of not paying attention to how much I use and it drives my husband nuts.
Justin
March 8, 2013 at 9:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Our heating bill went up once we had our little boy. When it was just my wife and I, we would keep the house pretty cool (65 degrees when we were home and 62 when we were away). We usually keep it at 68 now that we have a toddler at home.
Alan
March 8, 2013 at 5:16 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Hi,
Some good ideas. One thing I know my parents do to save water is when they are waiting for their shower/bath water to warm up, they take old milk containers and hold under the faucet and fill them up. Next time they need to do the laundry they empty the containers in the washing machine to fill it up instead of relying on new water. I have been looking around the house lately to see what I can work on to make the house more efficient. One thing you mention is insulating the hot water heater. Granted it is gas, but still could save some. Our basement is also unfinished and does not have any insulation in the ceiling which I believe causes our house to be drafty at times. Insulation is a little pricey though for our current financial situation. Lastly is checking in to having out thermostat moved to another area of the house. Currently it is in our family room right next to our tv. When the tv is on it creates heat which in the summer time causes the air conditioning to run more often. In the winter it causes the heat to not run and then the upstairs gets cold, causing us to turn the heat up higher for a bit.
Justin
March 8, 2013 at 9:49 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The thermostat location is a good point. One trick I use with water is that I keep a 20oz bottle full of water in each of our toilet tanks. My wife thought I was really weird for doing that, but it saves 20 ounces of water with each flush. I know it doesn’t cost much (the cost of water is quite low in our area of the country), but I like to think it adds up.
My Money Design
March 11, 2013 at 12:19 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Good points and certainly something we can all use to try to save money. Here’s my two cents: Last year I “teed” off my sprinkler line so that I could use it to run my hose for outside stuff like the pool and spraying off random things. Since the sewer line goes by a different rate, it works out to a cheaper price.