Whether you live in an apartment where your utility bills are included in your rent, or you have to pay for them separately, we are all responsible for the amount of energy we use. Reducing the amount of energy you use will not only save you money, it also helps the environment.
If you’re looking to embrace energy-saving strategies that will keep your energy bills low and your carbon footprint to a minimum, take a look at these tips for using less energy without sacrificing your comfort.
Draw Your Curtains
If you’re fortunate enough to have an apartment home that receives considerable sunlight, take advantage of your blessed situation by drawing your blinds during the day. The temperature in your apartment will remain just as warm as it would if you didn’t draw your blinds, but the heater won’t have to work as hard. Make sure to close those curtains in the evening however, as cool, dark, nights can have the opposite effect.
Reverse Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans typically run counter-clockwise to push warm air to the ceiling of a room. By reversing the direction to clockwise during the winter, you can help keep warmer air in parts of your apartment in which your comfort matters most. For best results, keep your ceiling fans on a low setting.
Turn Out the Lights
It’s always a good idea to turn off the lights when you leave a room. In the winter, when energy tends to be even dearer, this is especially helpful to the environment. In addition to helping promote energy conservation, one effect of this practice is you’ll have to change–and thus buy–replacement light bulbs less frequently.
Swap Out Bulbs
Going back to lights, swap out your bulbs for compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL). According to Energy Star, while CFLs use slightly more energy when first turned on, after electricity starts moving they use around 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs.
Use Cold Water
We’re not saying you should take a cold shower! We’re talking about laundry. Heating water costs money, so to save a little, use cold water when you do your laundry. One caveat to this rule is when your clothes are really dirty…when this is the case, we recommend sticking to hot water.
Small adjustments can lead to big savings. Make these quick, easy changes in your apartment and reap the benefits.
What are some other ways you save on your energy bills?
View All Posts by Jason Ernst