4 Ways To Reduce Energy Costs at Home and Work

Appliances

You may be considering tactics to save energy costs either at home or in your business location. The good news is some of the same energy-saving actions work equally well at your residence and your place of work. Here are four ways to cut energy costs wherever you are.

  1. ENERGY STAR Appliances

Outdated appliances often use a lot of energy. Look for ENERGY STAR appliances and machines to replace them. ENERGY STAR products cover a wide spectrum of needs, from low-energy use light bulbs to refrigerators, air conditioners, and commercial dishwashers. ENERGY STAR even certifies entire commercial buildings that follow specific energy-saving guidelines.

  1. Insulate

Insulation helps control temperatures in structures. While the insulation industry may give the impression of being basic, there have actually been steady advances so that professionals today can offer high-performance insulation products that perform better than those in the past. Your house and your business facilities need insulation to keep costs down and avoid wasting power. Reliable sources to promote saving on energy usage are spray foam contractors Virginia.

  1. Unplug

Whether at your home or in a business, appliances of all sorts use a great deal of power when plugged in. This is true even if appliances are turned off. A good practice is to unplug appliances when not in use.

At home, unplug:

  • Televisions
  • Device chargers
  • Kitchen countertop appliances
  • Hair dryers and styling tools

At commercial locations, unplug:

  • Printers
  • Computers
  • Break room appliances
  • Lights in unoccupied spaces

While unplugging items when not in use saves energy, this careful use of electricity can also offer additional safety against electrical fires.

  1. Mind the Temperature

While each person is comfortable at different temperatures, there are energy-efficient guidelines to follow for keeping spaces both at home and at work comfortable without wasting energy. There are many factors involved with maintaining comfortable temperatures. People who take medicine, for example, may be more sensitive to extreme temperatures. At a business, if there are workers on a night shift, temperatures may need to be adjusted for the dark hours. Other businesses, such as bakeries, generate heat by the nature of their work. Use common sense and consideration in setting temperatures in commercial buildings and at home.

Using Energy Well

You can use energy wisely both where you live and in your workplace. Some helpful steps are simple and can be instantly implemented while others may be put into place over time. The important thing is to be mindful of energy use and try to save resources wherever possible, both for your budget and for the greater good.