TIPS & GUIDES

Lower Your Energy Costs with These Home Energy Saving Tips

By Hauslane ∙ 5 mins read

Are your utility bills higher than ever? Energy bills tend to increase during warmer months, and with heat waves occurring across the country, this summer is no exception. Of course, we rely on HVAC systems to keep us cool and comfortable, but air conditioning isn’t the only thing driving up your utility costs. The use of water heaters, sprinklers, dishwashers, laundry machines, cooktops, and ovens adds up each month.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to maximize your home energy savings without giving up creature comforts.

Lower Your Utility Costs with These Home Energy Saving Tips

Take Stock of Your Current Usage Habits

To maximize your home energy savings, start by reviewing your usage habits and the state of your home. There are some simple changes you can make right away to lower your bill, such as:

✦ Taking shorter showers

✦ Washing clothes in cold water

✦ Adjusting your fridge and freezer temperature

✦ Raising your thermostat a few degrees in the summer and lowering it a few in the winter

✦ Not allowing the faucet to run continuously when washing dishes or brushing your teeth

✦ Adjusting your water heater temperature

Ways to Save on Home Energy Long-Term

Once you’ve made those changes, you can perform some routine home maintenance to generate greater savings. Add the following to your home to-do list and enjoy lower utility costs:

✦ Add insulation to the attic.

✦ Seal any leaks on windows, doors, and appliances.

✦ Repair any leaky faucets or ductwork.

✦ Replace old showerheads with new ones that have a WaterSense rating.

✦ Install dimmer switches.

✦ Use ENERGY STAR lightbulbs.

✦ Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances. For example, our UC-PS18 Under Cabinet Range Hood comes with a very handy auto-delay shut-off feature that gets rid of odors and toxins after you're finished cooking as well as saves energy by automatically turning off; to avoid forgetting to hit the off switch on your hood fan thus using unnecessary energy.

Use Time-of-Use Pricing to Your Advantage

If your utility company applies time-of-use pricing, you can use this structure to your advantage. This pricing structure charges more for utility usage during prime hours. In other words, it costs more to use electricity when the demand is high. You’ll save on utility costs if you use less electricity during high-demand times. The evening is often a peak-energy usage hour as most people are at home, cooking dinner, watching television, and running appliances.

It’s best to contact your utility company to determine when peak hours are. They often vary by season. Once you know those hours, you can choose to run your dishwasher, wash clothes, and use large appliances during off-hours when possible. Doing so also reduces demand on your community’s power grid and helps the environment.

As you’re upgrading appliances in your home to save on energy costs, take a look at Hauslane’s resource center. We can help you find the ideal range hood for your needs, budget, and style.