We are spending a big portion of our hard-earned money on monthly bills and it often feels as if the only reason why we need a job is just to be able to deal with all these expenses and make ends meet. However, there is no need to despair since we have a solution for you - turn your house into an energy-efficient environment. A great deal on such matters involves the energy provider you choose. This plays an essential role in your monthly electricity bills. For instance, if you look for electric companies in Houston, you will find several alternatives that fit your needs. Make sure you go through their customer reviews to make a wise decision.

In this article, we’ve prepared a list of useful energy-saving tips for you to take a look at. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get down to work.

 

Opt for a programmable thermostat

One of the best energy-efficient solutions is definitely a programmable thermostat. Owing to it, you’ll be able to reduce your energy usage and cut down your bills by a significant amount. In other words, you’ll be both helping yourself and the environment. Finally, don’t be ashamed to ask somebody to teach you how to use this thermostat properly if you’re not really tech-savvy, and thus make sure that you get all the benefit from it.

 

 

Don’t cool the entire house

Cooling the entire house with an air conditioning unit takes a lot of time and energy. Therefore, one of the easiest ways to do this properly is by closing the doors of all the rooms that you don’t really use, and just cooling the ones you spend time in. Additionally, by keeping your curtains closed, you’ll reduce the temperature inside significantly without even having to turn the air conditioning on. However, keeping the blinds closed means that you will have to switch to a lighting solution that won’t additionally increase the temperature in your home. Therefore, we recommend opting for LEDs which are extremely energy-efficient and don’t produce any heat.

 

Choose your provider wisely

Homeowners know that one of the most difficult decisions they have to make is choosing an adequate energy provider who will offer them the best possible service. Additionally, once you’ve made up your mind and chosen a company, make sure to go over the contract before you sign it. More importantly, don’t hesitate to seek legal counsel if you are not sure about certain parts of the agreement.

 

Furthermore, feel free to be upfront with the provider and ask all the important questions. For instance, you should check whether the rate is fixed or it varies, when the contract expires and if there is a cancellation fee.

 

Finally, don’t hesitate to get a second opinion from experts who will help you compare electricity prices and choose the best provider who will satisfy your energy needs. Owing to them, you’ll be sure that you won’t make any crucial mistakes and end up paying more than necessary.

 

 

Go for Energy Star rated appliances

As we all know, the most power-hungry devices reside in our kitchen. Therefore, it’s crucial to start investing in cost-efficient alternatives that will spend much less energy and perform even better than the standard ones. For this reason, we strongly recommend opting for high-tech Energy Star rated appliances which can, due to their advanced properties, help you save up to thousands of dollars per year. Finally, if you’re not on a tight budget, feel free to opt for a smart Energy Star rated refrigerator which is connected to Wi-Fi and can keep track of the expiration dates and the stock of your groceries.

 

Opt for a tankless water heater

We all love to take a long, hot shower after a stressful day, but heating up all that water can require a lot of energy. Consequently, many homeowners are now switching to tankless heaters which can warm up the water without using a storage tank to accumulate it. When somebody turns the tap on, the water travels through a pipe, and a burner that runs either on gas or electricity heats it up immediately. Lastly, it is estimated that these water heaters can help you save up to 500$ per year on energy bills, so don’t hesitate to switch to one of these as soon as possible.

 

 

As you can see, it doesn’t take much effort to turn your home into an energy-efficient one. All it takes is careful planning and not being afraid to invest some money upfront so that you don’t have to pay more in the future. Finally, don’t forget to opt for eco-friendly solutions and contribute to preserving the environment.

Guest post by Chloe Taylor

 

 

About the Author

Chloe is an interior design consultant from Adelaide and a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. She loves everything related to decor, aesthetic and lifestyle topics. She is also passionate about photography. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take some stunning photographs of beautiful places. Beside all this, she enjoys drinking coffee and reading a beautiful book from time to time. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

 

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