2 Essential Areas for Energy Savings Wins

Time. If only we had more of it.

Why is it that you really only have about 16 hours of waking energy in you during the day, but really only 8-9 of that can be spent on focused work?

When you think about that, and everything that you have to deal with in life, it seems like so little.

But don’t worry, we have you covered once again with the most important areas to focus on for energy savings wins!

Some you can hire out. Some you can do yourself. And when you implement them, you’re sure to experience massive energy savings wins.

Here’s what we have for you:

1. Insulate, Insulare, Insulate!

Keeping the warm or cool air that your HVAC system conditions in your home is the largest battle to focus on.

What good does that air do you if a large portion of it simply seeps outside?

The squirrels and birds might like it. But you’ll be out of luck.

So start with the insulation levels in your attic.

Honestly, this is one that you’re probably best to hire out. It’s complicated to understand the right type and amount of insulation to add.

For example, depending on where you are in Texas, you’ll need insulation with a certain “R-value.” R-value measures how well a certain type of insulation keeps air from escaping.

The higher the R-value, the more air it prevents from escaping (but the higher the cost).

And, because of the naturally hotter climate here in Texas, you don’t necessarily need the highest R-value insulation.

That R-value can also vary based on the type of insulation.

For now, just understand that you need to correctly insulate your home for the best energy savings.

It’s an ambitious project if you want to DIY. And it carries a medium cost if you choose to hire a contractor.

2. Maintain Your Appliances

This you can do yourself. To start, understand that appliances (the fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer) do use their fair share of energy.

You can keep your fridge at 40 degrees and your freezer at zero. Your food will stay cool. And you’ll save money on energy too.

Fill your fridge, but don’t jam it to the brim with food. It needs that space to circulate cool air.

For your dishwasher, rinse your dishes before putting them in. And only run full loads.

With your washer and dryer, again only use full loads. And you only need cold (not the more costly hot) water to get your clothes clean.

If you have a second fridge that’s really old down in your basement or in your garage, replace it with a new one.

Fridges 20 years old (or so) burn through a lot of energy. And it’s worth your money to replace them.

So, if you’re going to spend a lot of time on energy savings, those are 2 great places to start!