Cutting costs on household utilities is just one of the aims of every household. While many can't do anything with the rising cost of fuel, there are a lot of ways one can do to eliminate the rising cost of utilities in their monthly bills. Wise choices and some little upgrades can do the trick to make that big difference. Bankrate shares five tips on how to reduce these costs.
1. Painting your roof white
While a white paint is not a popular choice of color used in many roofs, this color can actually reduce energy consumption in our homes.
"A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Heat Island Group found that in sunny climates, buildings with white roofs required up to 40% less energy for cooling than those with black roofs," based from the article. "At current utility rates, that means you could save more than $100 per year in cooling costs."
2. Unplug unused appliances before sleeping
This simple gesture of unplugging unused appliances before going to sleep could save us some bucks in a year. Try to make it a habit to unplug unused appliances not only before bedtime, this can surely help to eliminate costs in your utilities.
3. Set your heater at 120 degrees
Heater that exceeds maximum temperature of over 120 degrees could mean additional costs in utilities. Try to always maintain 120 degrees maximum temperature to avoid bulging costs.
"The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a heater set at 140 degrees or higher can waste $36 to $61 annually in standby heat losses to keep water at that temperature, and more than $400 to bring fresh water up to that high temperature. To save even more money, you can turn your electric heater off or turn your gas heater down when you go on vacation to save even more." according to Bankrate.
4. Go for energy efficient products for your home
There are many energy-efficient products available in the market. Choose the ones labeled with "Energy Star." These product's costs are not far from the usual that we buy and these could even save us a lot of money in the future.
5. Repair the cracks in your home
Tiny cracks, leaks, or holes in the house may not seem serious for homeowners but these tiny home problems need actually be taken care off immediately.
"When you add up the cumulative effect of all the small leaks in your home, it has the effect of leaving a window open all year long," according to EPA's Vargas from Bankrate.
