Minimizing energy waste in your Philadelphia property is not only beneficial to the environment but will also reduce your expenses. There are things that you can change throughout the year. Below you will find Philadelphia ways to reduce energy waste.
Thermostat Settings
An electronic thermostat helps save money on heating and cooling. Rather than leaving your heating or cooling on the entire day, you can program your system to increase or decrease at different times of day. This also stops you from forgetting to decrease the settings when you leave for work or while you are sleeping.
An Extra Note About Heating
How you adjust the temperature in a property will depend on the type of heating system. Forced hot air heaters warm a living area very quickly, whereas hot water systems take dramatically longer. If you have a forced hot air unit, reduce the temperature dramatically and program it to increase immediately before you plan to return home. Hot water units need more time to warm up, so it is best not to drop the temperature too far and to also allow it more time to heat back up.
Air Conditioning Additional Tips
Give extra thought into where you position air conditioners. For central systems, the ideal location for vents is near the ceiling since cold air falls. For portable units, try not to place them near entry ways that open often and allow cold air to escape.
Electronics
Electronics consume electricity even when they are not running. For example, an LCD or plasma TV takes roughly 400 watts when powered on and 4 watts when powered off. When you combine all of the electronics in a residence, it can add up to a lot of unnecessary energy over longer periods of time. Take the time to unplug electronics that are not frequently used. To simplify this, install a surge protector with multiple electronics plugged in and shutting the entire surge protector off.
Water Consumption
Water is one of the most abused resources in Philadelphia homes. As a simple first step, avoid leaving water running while brushing your teeth or washing dishes. Immediately address plumbing leaks or running toilets. Evaluate low water usage toilets or place a solid object into the tanks of existing toilets to reduce the amount of water held for flushing. Low-flow faucets and shower heads will also help. These alterations will save on both water and sewer charges.
Monitoring Air Escape
Keep doors and windows closed to retain the heat or cooling in your Philadelphia residence. If you have doorways with two sets of doors, close one door before opening the other. This will limit the amount of air that leaves your home.
Interior Lighting
Take advantage of natural sunlight whenever possible to brighten and heat up interior spaces. Use solar powered exterior fixtures. Energy saving light bulbs are easily found at local hardware stores and most are brighter and last longer than their traditional alternatives, making the benefits of switching obvious.
Philadelphia Ways To Reduce Energy Waste
Many of the Philadelphia ways to reduce energy waste above are quickly implemented while others require you to be more conscious of your energy usage. Combined, they can create significant savings on your regular utility bills. Exercise energy reduction at all times in your Philadelphia home to see the most benefit from your efforts.
