Take a look around your home. The appliances that you use every day, from the washing machine to the stovetop, could be wasting energy and costing you money this very second! In fact, appliances typically account for about 20% of your utility bills. Do your part to make these appliances more energy efficient with these helpful tips:

Make These Simple Switches

Use the right size burner.

When cooking, do you turn on whatever burner is closest to you regardless of the size of the pot or pan? There’s a reason why stovetops feature burners in a variety of sizes! Using a burner that is too big for your pot or pan can waste energy by emitting more heat than is needed. For example, using a 6” pot or pan on a burner that is just two inches bigger can waste up to 40% of the heat! Each time you decide to cook, make a conscious decision to switch to the right-sized burner and increase the energy efficiency of your stovetop.

Choose the correct laundry load setting.

Do you have a light load of laundry that needs to be done? Before you press start, be sure to adjust your washer’s settings to the appropriate load size. If you don’t make this simple switch, your washer may use more water than is necessary to clean your clothes, thus wasting energy and driving up your utility bill.

Stop These Bad Habits

Unplug appliances.

Do you have a toaster, coffee maker or other appliance plugged in at all times even though you use it maybe once a day? Even if these appliances are turned off, they will still consume energy if they remained plugged into an electrical outlet. Make it part of your morning routine to do a sweep through of the kitchen and unplug any appliances that you won’t need before you go to work. Although this may seem like a simple change, it can save you from wasting energy and overpaying on your utility bills!

Clean.

Cleaning appliances may fall on the bottom of many people’s to-do lists, however it’s important that appliances such as microwaves and dryers are cleaned regularly. Be sure to check your dryer’s vent frequently to clean any lint that may have accumulated from previous loads. The more lint that piles onto the vent, the less energy efficient your dryer will be with the next load. Other appliances such as microwaves are also affected by cleanliness. Wipe down the inside of your microwave to ensure that all of this appliance’s energy is directed towards the food being cooked and not crumbs lying around.

Tackle These Projects

Install Energy Star appliances.

If you have older appliances in your home, it may be wise to replace them with Energy Star models that are designed to save you energy and money. For example, Energy Star dryers use about 20% less energy than conventional models while the washers use 25% less energy and 40% less water.  In the kitchen, choose Energy Star dishwashers and refrigerators to slash your energy consumption even further. All of these appliances will eventually pay for themselves over time with the amount they’ll save you year after year.

Although many of these tips just take a few minutes to complete, you’ll notice a big difference in your energy consumption and the amount you owe on each month’s utility bills!