One of the easiest ways to reduce our energy use is to consciously adjust our thermostats lower in the cold months and higher in the warm months. We can also turn out the lights when leaving a room.These things really add up when everyone in the family pitches in to help.
Programmable thermostats are fantastic for helping families reduce their heating and cooling bills without much effort on their part. Once you install it you can set the thermostat on a weekly program taking into consideration the schedule changes from your work week to your days off. If you dial down two or three degrees at night and add a blanket to everyone’s bed or dial up the air conditioning and dress a little lighter when you are home you can save quite a bit of money. The real benefit is in the fact that, once you get it programmed, it is hands-free. The thermostat automatically adjusts to the program you created. If your schedule changes and you find yourself needing more heat or more air conditioning you can temporarioy override the system.
Turning off lights when you leave the room is very cost effective and a good habit to get into. You should even consider appliances that continue to use a small amount of energy even when they are not in use. It is considered to be standby power and it is costing you, and the planet, money. You can reduce this expense by powering down and unplugging your electronics when not in use. You can unplug the toaster and coffee pot when you are finished with them, too. It may take some effort to get into this habit but it is a good one to get into. You will save money and reduce your carbon footprint at the same time.