Energy does not come
cheap, and with rates always on the rise, more and more homeowners are looking
for as many ways as possible to pay less for heating and powering their home.
If the idea of saving energy makes you imagine huddling up on the sofa wrapped
in all your blankets with the heating system off, you’ll be glad to know that
there are a number of different things which you can do to reduce the amount of
energy you use, without the need to freeze. We’ve listed just a few for you
here.
Solar Panels
More and more people
are turning to self-sustaining living, and generating their own energy via
solar panels on the roof of their home. Solar panels can be used to power your
whole home – which is great if you live in a really sunny area, or you can use
them along with conventional electricity to slash your electricity bills.
Depending on the area where you live, you may be able to have solar panels
installed at a reduced price or even for free as part of schemes to help
homeowners become more eco-friendly.
Seal Air Leaks in the Home
Looking for air leaks
around the home is just one simple thing which you can do to help reduce your
energy bills each month. Weather stripping and caulking around windows and doors can start to become
worn and torn, and leaks allow the hot air to escape from the house and let
drafts in – making your heating system work harder to keep the property at a
comfortable temperature. Sealing up these leaks will help to keep more hot air
trapped inside and keep the drafts at bay so that your home stays at the
temperature you need without the added price.
Energy Audit
Carrying out a full energy audit of your home allows you to find any areas
where energy is being wasted, and rectify them so that as a result, you’re only
using the necessary amount of energy needed to heat, cool and power your home.
Audits involve doing things such as checking insulation and finding air leaks,
and you can either do them yourself or hire a trained professional to help.
Many energy providers will send somebody to audit your home for free at your
request.
Switch Providers
With the large majority
of energy providers not requiring their customers to be tied into a lengthy
contract, it makes sense to keep your eye on all of the different providers to
see who’s offering the best rates, and switch accordingly. Staying loyal to an
energy supplier who is charging more than their competitors are means that
you’ll end up throwing money away, so be savvy and regularly check different
supplier websites or energy rate comparison sites such as http://energycompaniesalberta.com/ in order to make sure you’re not paying more
than you need to. Switching is usually quick with little to no inconvenience.
How do you keep your
energy bills low? We’d love to hear your top tips in the comments.
