In many states, energy prices are rising, some as much as 14% higher than last year. And in states where the price seems to be falling, experts warn that international turmoil could pick the price back up. So, homeowners are looking for ways to cut back on spending.
The easiest way to do that is to adjust your thermostat settings. By setting it just a little higher in the summer, you can end up saving hundreds of dollars throughout the season. Plus, you can find other ways to save money while withstanding the brutal summer heat.
Keep reading below to learn how to save money on your utility bills!
Extreme Thermostat Settings Cause Extreme Utility Bills
When the summer comes along, many people start to crank up their air conditioning. They want to return home to an iceberg, stepping into a room filled with chilly air. Just like everyone else, homeowners want their home to be an escape from the outside world — including its temperature!
That can come at a cost, though, and some homeowners are realizing it’s best not to leave their air conditioning running. As energy prices go up, more homeowners are settling at midrange temperatures like 78 degrees. This keeps the house comfortable without breaking the bank.
Plus, it puts less demand on your HVAC system, helping you prevent having to spend even more money on HVAC repairs. By using your air conditioning less, you have less of a risk of it accidentally breaking.
Not All Homes Are Built for Energy Efficiency
More people are moving to new cities across the U.S., searching for homes of all kinds at affordable prices. As a result, more people are moving into homes built in the 1940s or earlier. While these homes may offer a unique design, they lack some amenities of modern homes.
For example, unless they were recently upgraded, older homes may not have energy-saving features. Their insulation may not be designed to reduce the strain on HVAC units. Their roofs may also trap heat due to the materials they are built with.
If you are looking for a new home and want to save money when moving in, try to find a home that was built relatively recently. It will have more of a chance of being designed with energy efficiency in mind.
Equipment Upgrades Leads to Energy Savings
If you’re trying to save money, it may not seem like the best move to invest in a new air conditioning unit. You may not want to buy new energy-efficient windows or try financing solar panels. However, these kinds of decisions can save you a lot of money on utility bills.
Spending a few hundred dollars on fixed picture windows can result in years of energy savings, for example. Plus, they can improve the look and feel of your home. They can also improve its value, helping you make a bigger profit if you ever decide to sell.
These kinds of windows also help regulate temperature, keeping you from constantly changing your thermostat settings.
Homeowners Need to Save Money Now More Than Ever
Your thermostat settings can be costing you more than you realize. Setting it something like 72 degrees can actually end up costing you a lot of your home isn’t energy efficient. And by placing so much demand on your HVAC unit, you can accidentally damage it.
Right now, more homeowners are also feeling the burden of rising energy prices across the world. Everything from gas to lumber is rising in price. To learn more ways you can save money, just keep reading our website!
