Top 11 Eco-Friendly And Cost-Cutting Tips On Utilities

If you could help the environment while saving money in the process, wouldn’t you want to give it a shot? Here are some ways that can really help in this endeavor, when you see how much you can save and how it can also make you feel better in some ways, you might want to keep this up permanently instead of just testing if you can do the challenge.

1.      Change Your Light Bulbs

Still using old school lightbulbs in your home? Time to get rid of them! Switch to CFL bulbs which consume way less energy but provide the same amount of light for much longer time!

2.      Insulation

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs are lost each year by escaping heat and cold air in homes without proper insulation. Get some inexpensive insulation from your local home improvement store and cover up all those areas where heat or air conditioning might escape.

3.      Programmable Thermostat

Don’t you find it wasteful to let the heater or air-conditioning running when there’s no one using it? Don’t waste energy and money with this and get a thermostat that you can program to turn it off around the time no one’s around and turn it on before someone gets home. This way, you can rest assured you’re only paying for the energy you’ve actually used.

4.      Energy-Efficient Appliances

Nowadays, appliances and electronics that use less energy but still work just as effective are widely available. If you really want to cut back on your utility bills, start considering on replacing your appliances with these ones even if it’s little by little. It may seem like spending money unnecessarily, but you’ll see how much they can save energy in the long run.

5.      Fill Up

When using appliances, try to get into the habit of maximizing them. For example, run the dishwasher or the washing machine only when you have the maximum dishes or clothes that each of them can fit. This practice prevents frequent washing of very little dishes or clothes which uses too much water, power, as well as detergent.

6.      Power Strips

We know that unplugging appliances when they’re not in use is the most effective way to prevent unnecessary usage of energy since plugged-in appliances still draw power even when turned off. However, it can be quite a hassle to keep unplugging everything every time. A more convenient way to do this would be to use standard power strips to power down electronics hot-spots in your home when you’re not there or asleep.

7.      Turn The Lights Off

This is a common tip but really goes a long way. But still a lot of people tend to oversee it. So to make this a habit, make your house more open in a way that more natural light can come in. This way you only turn the lights on when it’s really dark out.  

8.      Open The Windows

This tip is very related to the previous one. Opening the windows allows natural sunlight which help brighten up the house without turning on your lights. Aside from that, it also allows to breeze throughout the house freely which then lessen the need for using the air conditioner all the time.

9.      Close Vents

If you have rooms that you never use, like guest rooms or large storage areas, you may not really need your central heating or cooling systems to reach those areas. Close and seal off the vents in those rooms to be more energy efficient and direct the flow of air to the rooms you use most. Also, make sure you have carbon monoxide detectors throughout the house for safety.

10. Be Vigilant

Living consciously is often all you need. If you really pay attention to your everyday habits, you’ll find a lot of things that you can easily avoid or replace. Like take shorter shower instead of long baths or sharing the same room if you’re only hanging around or watching the same TV show so that you don’t have to turn two separate TV, lights and air-conditioner or heater at the same time.

11. Look For A Better Electricity Provider

If you’re having issues with the services you’re paying at inflated price and on time, look for a better provider. You don’t have to settle with an electricity supplier here in Singapore that doesn’t meet your needs and money’s worth when you can always find a better one with the help of BillCheap. All you have to do is type in how much energy you use and your average monthly bill, and then you’ll be able to compare energy deals from different provider in order to get the best one for you.