In an ideal world everyone would chip in to help the planet simply to help the planet. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world, and thus a lot of people aren’t going to go green unless there’s something in it for them. Well, there is something in it for you. You can save a lot of money on your bills as long as you’re willing to follow a few easy steps.
The first step here is to invest in some Energy Star-rated appliances. Now, of course, this is going to be a hefty investment up front, especially if you’re switching out all of your appliances. However, you will notice the savings instantly. If you’re paying around $200/month on your electricity bill, you can slice that in half by switching out your washer, stove, fridge, dryer and TV. The appliances pay for themselves in a couple of years.
Another great way to cut back on your utility bills is to do something about all that water you’re wasting. That old toilet you have probably wastes in excess of four gallons every time you flush it. That definitely adds up. And if you’re taking a shower a day, you could be wasting upwards of twenty gallons of water. Look for water-saving plumbing devices and save big.
Did you know that even having a small crack in the seal of your windows can cause you to waste a lot of money on the energy rates of heating and cooling costs? Think about the inside of a cooler. If the lid is open, the ice is going to melt. It’s the insulation and seal that keep things cool. The same applies with your home. If you insulate your doors and windows, you can keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter for far less money.
We all have bad habits, like leaving that box fan on when we leave the room or leaving the toaster and coffee pot plugged in when they’re not in use. Well, if you can correct these little habits, you can end up saving big in the long run. Develop better habits to replace those old ones.
A lot of people think they have to splurge and spend over twenty thousand on a solar panel setup in their home. Well, this isn’t true at all. There’s no rule saying that you can’t start small. Go purchase just one or two panels to supplement your energy costs. Put the savings aside and wait until you can buy more. Eventually you can get off the grid entirely.
There’s really no sense in trying to go green if your husband, wife or kids are just going to flip the light back on every time you turn it off. That’s why it’s important that everyone gets on board with what you’re trying to accomplish. Make it a family affair.
The average family wastes thousands of gallons of water and many kilowatt hours of electricity every year simply because they’re washing clothes too often. Set up a schedule and stick to it. Make sure you’re washing full loads.
Following the advice you have read in the article above, you should be able to implement changes in your routine that end up saving you a lot of money. Get started today and experience those savings on your next bill.