California has for many decades led the nation in terms of its energy efficiency programs and environmental preservation standards, and Eagle Rock homeowners are especially keen on saving energy whenever possible. Not only does energy conservation help the planet, but it can also substantially reduce your family’s carbon footprint while saving you lots of money on utility bills. Going green – or enjoying a more eco-friendly lifestyle in Eagle Rock – does not have to cost you lots of money, either, because there are many different things you can do to easily and cheaply cut your energy consumption.
Here are three ideas or strategies you can implement in 2011 to start saving significant amounts of energy right away:
#1
Monitor Appliance Settings
Clothes washers, dishwashers, and water heaters are among the appliances in your home that probably have energy-saving settings. Washing your clothes in cold water, for instance, saves lots of energy and money and putting your dishwasher on the energy saving dry setting means it does not expend so much energy to get the dishes dry. Water heaters also have a vacation setting on them, so if you are going to be away from home for an extended time you can utilize that setting. That way your water tank will not keep reheating the same water over and over again – even when nobody is at home to use any hot water.
#2
Clean those Air Filters
Almost every air conditioning or heating system in Eagle Rock has an inexpensive filter that looks kind of like a picture frame made of cardboard with lots of holes and some fibrous material in it. These need to be replaced on a regular basis, ideally once per quarter or once a month. They normally only cost a few bucks each and it takes about two minutes to replace them and usually requires no tools – or maybe just a screwdriver. Find out where yours are located; replace them as needed, and your HVAC system will work much better. That will keep your heating and cooling costs down and also ensure that the HVAC unit performs at its optimum for a much longer time without unnecessary repairs.
#3
Invest in Insulation
Insulation is the cheapest energy saving material around, and the more of it you use in your home the less energy will be wasted. At a local Eagle Rock home improvement store you can buy special insulated blankets that fit over water heaters, for example, to trap heat in so that the water doesn’t get cold too fast. Likewise you can buy inexpensive foam insulation that fits easily over hot water pipes so they don’t lose heat en route to your kitchen or bathroom faucets. Caulking around gaps in windows and doors is another kind of do-it-yourself insulation that is easy to apply and traps warmth inside in the winter while holding cool air indoors all summer long.
If you are in the market for new appliances during 2011 that presents you with another great energy-savings opportunity. Buy those that carry the Energy Star rating. They meet higher energy efficiency standards, and many of these products are also eligible for special rebates or energy tax credits. Ask your Eagle Rock appliance dealer for details.
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