Whether you work from home or have a large household, everyone wants to save money and your home energy bill may be a good place to start. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that the average monthly energy bill was about $117 in 2018. Even if you’re comfortable with your current energy bill, it never hurts to be a little more eco-conscious and do your part for Mother Earth.
How to Reduce Your Energy Bill, Learn When to Reuse and Create a Cycle
Tips to Help Reduce Your Energy Bill
You probably are already turning the lights off after you leave a room and monitoring the usage of appliances. However, there are so many other small changes you can make to have a big impact on your energy bill. Saving money can be as simple as:
Consider making more substantial investments to help save in the long run, such as extra-insulating your home and attached garage, purchasing “energy star” appliances or making your environment a “smart home” using new technology. These solutions can be more costly up front, but on average can help save hundreds of dollars annually.
When to Reuse and When to Start New
If you are moving or considering a move, make sure you are asking the landlord or realtor about things like:
- The utility bill history
- The policy on appliances or just general household repairs
- Make sure the floors are all equally energy efficient
Remember to ask yourself, “What would it cost to replace everything and build new today?” to make the home as energy efficient as possible.
Contact your local Rural Mutual agent today for more information on homeowner’s insurance or if you have any questions about how to protect your home – especially if it involves renovations.
Create a Seasonal Cycle
It’s a good idea to create a seasonal checklist if you live in a place that experiences various climates—like Wisconsin.
For Winter, expect to get your cold weather clothes and blankets out. A pro-tip to know when you touch your thermostat: “What would your elders do?” More than likely, you know someone who would tell you to throw a sweater on rather than kick the heat up. Some other things to keep in mind:
- Always keep the heat above 55 degrees to prevent pipes from bursting.
- People often turn to fireplaces to keep warm because of the common assumption that it saves money, but make sure you know the risks before firing up.
Energy saving during Summer:
- Open a window or use a fan instead of air conditioning
- Make sure you keep blinds shut to keep hot sunlight out
- If it’s not too hot out, keep blinds open and the lights off to help reduce energy use
Some other things to keep in mind for seasonal properties:
- To weatherproof, make sure windows and doors are energy efficient choices and properly insulated
- Put in a storm door on any entries that have access to the outside world
- Hot tubs and swimming pools can bump up energy bills, and insurance rates
- Consider some of the alternate tips above to keep warm or cool during these seasons
Make sure you implement these cost-saving tips to help ensure that your seasons are always safe, eco-conscious and budget-friendly.
Contact your local agent to learn about more resources to protect your home and family.
The information provided in external website links is for general informational purposes only and does not form any recommendation or warranty by Rural Mutual Insurance or its affiliates.
