10 New Habits That Cut Energy Costs

Seemingly small changes can save you more dollars than you think. Try out a few new habits around the house and see the impact on your energy bill.

Top 10 habits for saving money on home energy bills

1. Disconnect idle electronics
   Chargers, TVs, and gaming consoles can still draw “phantom power” even when not in use. Always-on mode draws power that can account for 5-10% of your total household usage. Unplug culprits or consider IoT smart plug controllers or power strips, although they may take a while to pay for themselves.
2. Use natural light
   Open blinds and curtains during the day to reduce the need for artificial lighting.
3. Adjust your thermostat by 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit
   Just by changing your thermostat for 8 hours a day, like when you leave for work or when you go to bed, you can cut your annual heating and cooling costs by 10%.
4. Limit the spaces you condition
   Prevent heating and cooling unused rooms by routinely closing doors and vents to heat and cool only the spaces at home you use the most.
5. Use ceiling fans to complement your HVAC
   In high-traffic rooms in your house, using a ceiling fan (rotating counterclockwise in summer and clockwise in winter) can help you feel just as comfortable while raising or lowering your thermostat by 3-4 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Habitually turn off lights
   The savings add up when you turn off lights (even LED lights) every time you leave a room.
7. Shorten showers
   Water heating cost is typically 13-18% of your energy bill. Watch the clock to cut down showers by 2-3 minutes from your usual time. See items #8 and #17 in our list of energy-saving holiday gifts, clever gadgets that can help family members shorten their showers.
8. Run full dishwashers and washing machines
   Make "full load only" your household rule. Also use your clothes washer’s cold water settings to cut down on water heating costs.
9. Use your microwave or toaster oven instead of the full oven
   These smaller appliances are cheaper to operate because they use significantly less energy to cook or reheat small meals.
10. Air-dry dishes and clothes
    Skip the dishwasher's heated dry cycle by opening the clean racks to air dry. And, hang clothes to dry instead of defaulting to the clothes dryer.

Small changes like these in your daily routine can have measurable effects on your utility bills. Create new habits to take control of your everyday energy usage in meaningful ways.

---

How to finance your home energy upgrades through GoGreen Financing

GoGreen Financing is a State of California-run program designed to make attractive, accessible financing available for qualified home energy upgrades. Learn about the wide variety of energy measures that qualify for GoGreen Home loans. Then select one or more participating contractors to do the work as well as a participating lender to loan you the money.