Organize Your Energy In The New Year

New Year’s resolutions often include saving money. Tightening up your home’s electricity consumption is one good way to do that. Here are a few simple tips to help you get organized and start an achievable path to saving energy. First, we’ll take a look at three important steps when considering energy-efficiency projects.

Start by gathering information. Begin by reviewing your 2023 energy bills. Knowing how and when you use energy can help you decide how ambitious your plan should be. If you have questions about your past bills or energy use, give Wharton County Electric Cooperative a call—we’re available to help you understand your energy bills. We also offer the SmartHub app, which can show you exact data about your home energy use.

If you plan to live in your home for many years to come, hiring a professional energy auditor may be the best investment you can make. An auditor can tell you which actions will save you the most money or provide the biggest improvement in comfort. If you’re looking for a faster assessment, try an online energy audit like energystar.gov’s Home Energy Yardstick.

Develop a plan. Now that you’ve gathered the information you need, you can develop a plan. It can be simple or more comprehensive. If your priority is cutting energy costs, you can select the measure that will deliver the most savings. Maybe you’re already planning to do work on your home, such as roofing or renovating, and you can incorporate energy-efficiency strategies into that project. To complete your plan, you’ll likely need to check with local contractors and suppliers about costs.

Take action. Now that your planning is done, it’s time to take action. If you’re tackling any major energy-efficiency projects that require a contractor, remember to do your research and hire a licensed, reputable professional.

In addition to energy-efficiency projects and upgrades, there are other ways you can get organized to save energy:

Replace filters regularly. A clean filter can improve the performance of your heating and cooling system and reduce the electricity needed to pump air through your ductwork. Replace the filter now if it’s been a while, then set a reminder on your phone or calendar for the next replacement. Filters should be replaced every month if you’re using an inexpensive filter or every three months if you’re using a higher-quality filter. A better filter will do a better job and last longer.

Program your thermostat. Heating and cooling your home account for the most energy use, so setting your thermostat to match your lifestyle can make a major difference. If you don’t have a programmable or smart thermostat, get in the habit of manually adjusting your thermostat throughout the day or setting it to the most energy-efficient setting when you’re away.

Label the circuits in your breaker box. It may not reduce your energy use, but it’s an easy way to get organized and will save a lot of headaches down the line.

Do one thing a month that’ll make your home more energy-efficient:

• January: Get organized and start this plan for saving energy efforts.
• February: Get into the habit of turning your thermostat down by about 10 degrees before your family turns in for the night or leaves home in the morning. You can save as much as 1% on heating for every degree you lower the heat for eight consecutive hours.
• March: Wash your windows—inside and out—and open the drapes. The sun can’t warm and brighten your rooms if it can’t find its way through grimy windowpanes.
• April: Spring for an annual inspection of your air conditioning system. It can keep your central AC running smoothly and efficiently all summer.
• May: Seal air leaks around windows, doors, and other openings—like the place where cables and wires come into the wall from the outside—with caulk and weatherstripping. See sidebar for more information.
• June: Hire a licensed electrician to inspect your home’s electrical wiring system—not every year but at least once a decade.
• July: Pull your refrigerator away from the wall and vacuum or dust its condenser and coils. Clean coils prevent your fridge’s working parts from overheating.
• August: Run your clothes washer and dryer and your dishwasher after dark. That will reduce the heat and humidity in the air, and it helps your electric cooperative by lowering peak use.
• September: Get that heating and AC tech back to your house for a heating inspection. A tune-up can save as much as 5% on the heating bill.
• October: Set the thermostat on your water heater to no more than 120 degrees to prevent scalding and save energy.   
• November: Keep draperies and shades on south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight in and closed at night to reduce the chill from cold windows.
• December: Replace your old holiday lights with LED options, which last years longer and use far less energy.

By taking a little time to complete these steps, you’ll be well on your way to a more energy-efficient 2024.