Home Energy-Efficiency FAQ: How to Lower Energy Costs and Live Greener
Many homeowners might be looking for ways to save money on their monthly energy bills. While setting a goal to lower energy use and save money might be a good start, not all homeowners know about why they are spending so much each month and how to cut those costs.
benefyd’s Home Energy-Efficiency FAQ includes all the common questions about home energy use and how to zap budget-sucking energy drains.
- What uses the most energy in the home?
- Are solar panels worth the cost and the savings?
- How can homeowners find energy drains?
- When is the best time to do laundry or dishes?
- How high/low should I set my thermostat?
- How can I budget electricity costs?
- Will I save money with energy-efficiency appliances? How much?
- What is the most energy-efficient light source?
- How can homeowners save water?
- When is the best time to water the lawn?
The FAQs Answered: Here’s How to Save and What Changes to Make Now
What Uses the Most Energy in the Home?
Homeowners wondering what appliance of their home uses the most energy should side-eye their HVAC. Heating and cooling dominates the home’s energy use and could be driving up those energy costs.
Are Solar Panels Worth the Cost and the Savings?
Solar panels are an investment. Not all homeowners can tackle this expensive upgrade; in fact, the average cost of installing solar panels (and the panels themselves) costs around $15,000 to $25,000.
However, moving to solar power helps homeowners eliminate their dependency on electricity. Depending on the price of electricity in the area, the savings could really add up over time.
How Can Homeowners Find Energy Drains in their Home?
Energy drains can be lurking everywhere and anywhere. Homeowners can download the benefyd app to conduct a home energy audit on their home. Have the most recent utility bills on hand, as the app will require homeowners to enter monthly utility data.
In addition, benefyd will instruct homeowners to take a photo of every room in their home. Using the photographs and the utility information, benefyd will identify areas of energy waste and help homeowners find ways to cut costs. benefyd also can be used to find applicable rebates.
When is the Best Time to Do Laundry or Dishes?
Homeowners should only wash dishes and laundry when loads are completely full. Washing half-loads wastes energy and money. In addition, homeowners might elect to wash dishes or laundry during off-peak electricity-use times (if this offers savings). Some utility providers lower electricity costs during off-peak hours.
How High/Low Should I Set My Thermostat?
Heating and cooling uses the majority of the energy in the home. To help save money and lower energy use, homeowners can adjust their thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the hot summer months and 68 degrees during the winter.
How Can I Budget Electricity Costs?
The price of electricity could rise or fall. For homeowners who need to budget their costs to avoid having some months of high bills followed by months of lower monthly payments, reach out to the utility provider or visit their online hub. Some electric providers offer a ‘budget billing’ option that lets homeowners pay the same price each month.
The last month of the budget billing cycle, though, will adjust if the homeowner is ahead or behind on their usage costs. The final month could lead to more savings or could result in a larger bill.
Will I Save Money with Energy-Efficiency Appliances? How Much?
ENERGY STAR appliances use less energy for the same result. This means that homeowners can save money when they invest in these appliances. However, the amount of savings depends on the appliance.
Homeowners can research all their energy-efficiency appliance options by visiting ENERGY STAR’s website.
What is the Most Energy-Efficient Light Source?
Homeowners who want to save money on lighting their home might just open up their blinds. The sun is the most energy-efficient light source—it costs nothing.
However, during hot summers, don’t use the sun to light the home. The warm rays will simply add more heat to the home. To ensure that the light fixtures in the home are the most energy efficient options, make sure all light bulbs are LED.
How Can Homeowners Save Water?
In some parts of the country, conserving water is a must. However, water is a precious resource that all homeowners should not waste.
Install low flow showerheads and toilets to help conserve water. In addition, motion-activated faucets automatically turn off to help reduce water waste. When washing hands or brushing teeth, always make sure the faucet is off.
When Is the Best Time to Water the Lawn?
Many homeowners have gardens or lawns that need more upkeep. Each day, homeowners might turn on the sprinkler system to water their lawn, keep their grass green and their flowers in full bloom.
Be sure to set those sprinklers to water the lawn in the morning; this is the best time and the most energy-efficient option, as a morning schedule can help reduce evaporation.
There are many more ways that homeowners can save energy. To find all the energy drains in the home and discover all the ways to cut energy costs, download the benefyd app and conduct a DIY home energy audit today.
