The Ultimate Guide to Saving Power in the Living Room

Whether you call it the living room, family room, or den, the spot where your family gathers to relax, watch television, and entertain friends and family can be responsible for a substantial chunk of your energy bill. Pronto Power, an Austin prepaid power company, wants to help you identify ways to save power usage in your living room and has composed this guide to help you find areas that may need improvement.

Insulation

One way to conserve unnecessary use of power is to assess loss of heating or cooling in the living room. Check weather stripping on windows or doors to make sure seals are smooth and tight-fitting. Feeling a draft is a sure sign of wasted energy. If you have a fireplace, make sure that the flue closes correctly when not in use to prevent unnecessary loss of heat or air. Wall and roof insulation should be evenly distributed, in good condition, and of adequate strength.

Flooring and Window Treatments

While tile, hardwood floors and laminate are all durable flooring materials, they can contribute to loss of heat in the cooler months. Instead of cranking up the thermostat for the entire home, consider adding area rugs or carpeting to your living room to assist with heat retention. Draperies on the windows also help to keep heat and A/C better regulated. Wall hangings and plants serve to conserve energy, and plants provide the added bonus of filtering air and adding a touch of humidity, which makes the room feel warmer.

Thermostat

If your thermostat is not accurate, you’re wasting energy. Check its calibration and make necessary adjustments (or have a professional tend to it.) Installing a smart thermostat can help you regulate the temperature in your home by allowing automated temperature control and monitoring. Studies have shown that homeowners can save up to 10% off their annual energy bills by programming and analyzing data recorded by a smart thermostat to adjust temperatures as needed.

Lighting

The use of energy efficient light bulbs in lamps, sconces, pendant and overhead light fixtures in your living room can help you conserve energy. LED lights are the recommended bulbs in almost all of today’s lighting fixtures, and installation of dimmer switches can provide additional savings. Consider installing a home hub, and program lighting schedules so that only necessary lighting is used throughout the day.

Devices

Your living room utilizes power in ways you may not have considered. Leaving chargers plugged in for devices such as cell phones, handheld gaming devices, gaming consoles, or appliances like printers and TVs, results in substantial power drain. Unplug devices not in use, and watch your annual energy bill reduce. 

Heating/Cooling System

Frequent maintenance of your heating/cooling system is crucial to an energy efficient home. Air filters should be replaced on a monthly basis, and if you have multiple fur babies, you may need to change the filters every three weeks to ensure maximum efficiency. Keep vents clean and dust free to provide maximum air flow.

Pronto Power provides the solutions to help customers be as energy efficient as possible, and not just in the living room. Choosing Pronto allows customers to check daily energy consumption and ultimately save money. Call us today at 1-844-621-2852 or contact us online to get started.