CutEnergy It doesn’t matter if you rent an apartment or make mortgage payments, energy bills are a given and those costs can sometimes stretch your budget and shrink your wallet. Here are five tips you can check out that could lower your energy bills and save some money!
  1. CFL Bulbs – Swapping out your old light bulbs could make a big impact on your yearly energy costs. CFL stands for compact fluorescent lamp and it takes them less energy to light up and less energy to keep on. Not only do they generate the same amount of light as traditional incandescent light bulbs, but they last longer and on average, cost about $2 a bulb at stores like Wal-Mart or Home Depot.
  2. Utilize Natural Light – While you may have changed over your light bulbs, utilizing the natural light in your place can cut energy costs. You want to maximize your natural lighting by positioning your furniture like couches and chairs away from the windows. For instance, move your couch to a wall that doesn’t have windows and depending on the time of day, that light can almost act as a showcase for your furniture. It’ll make your chairs and couches look more inviting and also give you some warmth from the sun. At the same time, you won’t have to turn on lights during the day because the natural light will flood the room, making it brighter.
  3. Blankets – Since it is the fall, you may not need to run the air conditioner or heater because the temperatures outside are relatively mild. But, once the temps start to drop, consider decorating your couches with throw blankets because it will serve double duty: a blanket for when you’re chilly and gives your couches and chairs a more cozy look. Just imagine your cozy chocolate recliner with a warm and soft fleece blanket waiting for you to relax.
  4. Unplug – If you aren’t home, unplug! Electronics continually pull power when they are plugged in and those devices may not even be in use. Things like TVs, printers, laptops – you name it – pulls electricity when it doesn’t need to. Consider using power strips because they can typically handle multiple devices and make it easy to turn everything off with the flick of a switch. You can also find outlets with timers so you can schedule when electronics will automatically be turned off and on – ultimately saving you money on energy costs.
  5. Shorten Showers – Water bills can add up but you can easily make an adjustment to lower those costs. Depending on your daily routine, consider cutting your shower down by a few minutes or in half. Also, check out some big box retailers for low flow shower heads because they will cut down the amount of water used and you won’t even notice a difference!
If you can incorporate these small changes into your place, you could save money and spend it on something else besides bills like new furniture from Surplus! You also are participating in the eco-friendly movement because the less energy you use, the less harm is done on the planet!