Home energy costs seem to always be rising, so many people are looking for simple and smart ways to cut down on energy use around the home. Since most home appliances use a lot of energy, a good place to start is by reducing home appliance energy use.
We’ve listed several ways that you can cut down on your home energy use by using your home appliances more efficiently. With these tips, you’ll be able to increase your home appliance energy efficiency and save some money along the way!
In the Kitchen
When cooking small dishes or meals, opt for smaller appliances: toaster ovens, microwaves, electric skillets, and crockpots all use far less energy than a full oven range. When boiling water, opt for an electric kettle, which uses less energy to heat water than range-top boiling methods do.
When running your dishwasher, utilize the “energy saver” button, or switch to air dry your dishes rather than heat dry. This alone could save you up to 25% of your energy cost for running your dishwasher. Also, always run your dishes on a full load rather than smaller loads, which wastes excess energy due to load distribution.
Check that your refrigerator seal is airtight. You can easily do this by sliding a piece of paper in between your refrigerator door and closing it. If it slides out easily, then you’ll need to replace the seal, or possibly upgrade to a new refrigerator. A leaky refrigerator can waste a lot of money on energy and will have a hard time keeping up with the constant energy requirements.
In the Laundry Room
Use cold water to wash your clothes. Warm water actually doesn’t get your laundry any cleaner, but it does increase your home’s energy bill, as your washing machine must utilize a lot of energy to heat the water. Switching to cold water will not only save your money, but it’s gentler on fabric as well, meaning your clothes and linens will last longer.
Avoid small loads. When you only wash a small load of laundry you waste water and energy. A washing machine is designed to use the same amount of energy/resources no matter how large or small the load. Wait until you have enough laundry to fill the washer before running it to save on both water and energy use.
Around the House
Unplug small appliances you aren’t using. If an appliance, such as a toaster, blender, coffee maker, phone charger, or hair dryer is plugged into the wall, it is still drawing energy—even if it’s not turned on! Get in the habit of unplugging all appliances after using them, rather than just tuning them off. Leaving appliances plugged in while not using them is one of the easiest ways to up your electricity bill.
Even More Energy Savings with MightyServ
At MightyServ, we are proud to be one of the few contractors in the Brentwood area that participates in the Home Performance Program by ENERGY STAR. This is a national program offers a whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency, which in turn, improves your comfort at home. It’s also great for the environment and can help you save approximately 25% on your home energy bills. Call us today to learn more. (818) 348-4768
