Tips to Keep Your Energy Costs Down

Managing your home’s electric bills may seem like a daunting task, but it is easier than you think. Fairfield County residents know the importance of saving money when it comes to their utility bills, but that is not the only reason to be concerned about energy costs. More and more, homeowners are awakening to the need to care for the planet. One way to minimize our environmental impact is to consume resources such as electricity more wisely.

Reducing your home’s energy consumption does not require you to make extraordinary sacrifices. There are simple ways you can optimize your home to ensure a more conservative approach to the way you use power. In this post, we will offer some tips for how you can maximize your home’s energy efficiency and ensure that your energy costs stay low.

Plant Trees

Planting trees is not just for curb appeal; they can save you money during the hot summer months. The shade a tree provides can keep your home relatively cool, minimizing your reliance on energy-consuming products, such as air conditioners and fans. As an added benefit, trees may also offer privacy if your home is located along the busy streets of Stamford, Norwalk, or the surrounding area.

You may also find that this creates a comfortable outdoor seating area, prompting you and your family to spend more time outdoors, away from energy-consuming appliances, such as TVs and gaming systems.

Replace Your HVAC Filters

Dirty and clogged air filters can place an unnecessary strain on your air conditioning and heating systems. When this happens, these units will use more electricity to compensate. Replacing the filters of your air conditioner or furnace can ensure that your HVAC system runs efficiently all year long. As a bonus, clean filters can vastly improve your home’s indoor air quality, potentially saving you money on allergy supplements or additional air purifiers.

Whole-House Fan Installation

Fairfield County residents can take advantage of the New England climate by not relying on air conditioning during the temperate Fall and Spring seasons. A whole-house fan is installed in a central location in your home, serving to draw fresh air from outside through open windows and venting the air in your home through the attic.

Advantage of Whole-House Fan Installation

A whole-house fan works differently than a traditional HVAC system. HVAC systems recycle your home’s air through the ductwork, which means you’re breathing the same air over and over. A whole-house fan continually refreshes the air inside your home. These fans provide better indoor air quality and supply cooler air to your home without the need to rely on energy-consuming air conditioning units.

Cool Your Home Quickly

Believe it or not, this process can actually cool your home more quickly than a standard air conditioner because a whole house fan quickly vents your existing air and replaces it with the cooler air from outside.

Save on Your Utility Bill

A whole-house fan installation pays for itself in the long run. The average homeowner can expect to save up to 90% on their electric bill by relying on a whole house fan versus traditional air conditioning.

Make Use of Your Ceiling Fan

The ceiling fans in your home can also provide reliable heating and cooling. They can augment your existing HVAC system in both the summer and winter.

Create a Summer Breeze

During the summer, your ceiling fan can keep the air circulating throughout your home, providing a breeze that can make you keep your home cool and dry without having to switch on your home’s air conditioning.

Enhance Your Winter Heat

During the winter, you should adjust your ceiling fan by rotating it clockwise at a slow speed. This configuration will help pull cooler air upwards, which will help the warm air circulate throughout your room and provide consistently warm temperatures, saving power on your existing heating system.

Ceiling Fan Repair in Fairfield County

Sometimes it is easier to shrug your shoulders and switch on the air conditioning when your ceiling fan breaks down. Even a noisy ceiling fan can be a sufficient nuisance to prompt you to switch on your air-cooling unit. But the energy savings your fan provides might encourage you to re-evaluate the importance of your fan. Having your ceiling fan repaired might be a great option if you are looking to cut your home’s total energy consumption. Thankfully, our professionals at Safe and Sound Electric can help with various electrical repairs, including your ceiling fan.

Adjust Your Dimmer Switches

A modern dimmer switch (i.e., a mechanism for modifying the brightness of electric light) will only send the amount of electricity needed to power the light fixture. Older dimmer switches would send the same amount, and the excess was converted to heat.

Do not misunderstand—a dimmer switch cannot save electricity by itself. The best way to ensure your dimmer switch is saving electricity is to adjust it throughout the day. For instance, in the morning, you may find that you can keep the lights on low, but you need to increase their brightness as the sun sets and evening comes.

The point, of course, is that a dimmer switch allows you to power your interior lighting to the level you need—and no more. This strategy will enable you to reduce your total power consumption compared to light fixtures that only offer an on/off switch. Smart lighting installation can save power by giving you complete control over what lighting features are on and when.

Convert to Smart Interior Lighting

Safe and Sound Electric is proud to offer Fairfield County customers the latest technology for interior lighting. Today’s energy-saving light fixtures are made with “smart” technology, which means you can control the lighting in your home from your smartphone or other devices. That can also mean that you can switch the lights on inside your home while you are still away at work or even program a schedule for them to switch on and off, saving you from having to leave them burning throughout the day.

Install Energy-Efficient Exterior Lighting

You may leave your home’s exterior lighting on for extended periods in the day for safety and security reasons. In some cases, this may be essential for maintaining your home. But to save energy, you may wish to consider exterior lighting products that are more energy-efficient.

Motion-sensor lighting, for example, provides exterior illumination only when activated by external movement. These technologies provide a similar level of security to traditional lighting fixtures but can reduce your total electric consumption.

Consider an EV Charger for Your Electric Vehicle

Electric vehicle owners might also consider how an EV charger might save their electric bills. Because of the efficiency of today’s EV chargers, you can charge your car during off-peak hours, such as during the night while you sleep. Some utility companies will charge less money for energy consumed during this time. If you already need to charge your vehicle, an integrated EV charger can help minimize your energy use.

Where to Contact an Electrical Contractor Near Me

At Safe and Sound Electric, we are committed to helping our customers get the most out of their home’s lighting and appliances. That also means we’re committed to helping you conserve energy and save money on your electric bill.

Our skilled team will help you with exterior and interior lighting installation, whole house fan installation, EV charger installation, and various other electrical services that can bring your home more fully into the 21st century. When you are ready to consider how to optimize your home’s energy needs, contact the professionals at Safe and Sound Electric.