The winter season brings tons of enjoyable activities and events, but it can also take a toll on your budget. From holiday lights to keeping your home cozy during harsh weather, many Tucson families are left with high energy bills. Luckily, there are easy ways to decrease your expenses and achieve lower utility bills.
Our experts at Ambient Air in Tucson put together a list of ways you can save. Try them out and experience lower utility bills this winter season.
1. Adjust your thermostat.
Set your thermostat to lower heating output during hours when you’re asleep or not home. Three to five percent more energy is consumed when your furnace is set above 68 degrees, so try keeping your home at 68 degrees when you’re at home and awake, and reduce the temperature to 55-65 degrees at times when you’re away at work, out of town or sleeping to achieve lower utility bills.
2. Make sure you only wash when you have full loads.
Hold on doing laundry until you can run full loads. This will help you save on water heating, water usage and on heat used for the dryer. You don’t want to do more laundry than you have to anyway, right? And, keep in mind: cleaning out the lint trap after every load can save you up to $34 a year, according to PG&E.
3. Conduct a home energy audit.
A home energy audit can help you determine the places where your home is losing energy through leaks, drafts, or products and appliances that use excess energy. The assessment can explain how to save on energy expenses, including long- and short-term energy-saving solutions.
4. Properly seal your leaks.
From your heating and cooling ducts to attics, walls and windows, there are plenty of areas in your home that may be letting in unwanted cold air. Simply tape heavy plastic over the windows, and add caulk or weatherstripping to seal leaks coming through doors and windows. Contact Ambient Air to find out more about sealing your air ducts.
5. Use LED holiday lights.
One of the easiest ways to receive lower utility bills is to switch out your older, less efficient holiday lights for LED lights. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these lights use less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last up to 40 holiday seasons in Tucson.
6. Install a high-efficiency furnace.
If you need to upgrade your furnace, consider an energy efficient furnace. Some systems can save hundreds of dollars a year on annual heating bills over older furnaces. Or, if you’ve made a replacement recently, remember to schedule a routine maintenance visit for your current equipment. A quick tune-up can help you achieve lower utility bills by making it easier for the system to do its job.
For more information on how you can achieve lower utility bills this winter, give Ambient Air in Tucson a call at 520-357-4912.