Performing a complete energy audit with an electrical contractor is one of the best ways that you can start to save on your electricity bill and improve environmental conditions. Electrical contractor websites often offer the chance for homeowners to call out a licensed and bonded electrician to come to their location and perform these audits.
The audit will examine the scope of your electrical work, insulation, wiring, and appliances to determine where you could run your home more efficiently. By looking at the appliances causing you to use the most energy and assessing areas where your home electrical grid could be improved, you can work at reducing your energy bill.
Receive credits for your audit:
If you are interested in a home energy audit, the electrical contractor scope of work quote you get from the audit could also come with tax credits. Any energy efficiency improvements general contractor electrical work makes to your home could be partially covered in rebates. Contact us to find out more, or read on.
Electricity is used to run households throughout the United States. While some households may utilize generators, others predominantly use the energy provided by their local power company. Given the costs associated with household electric usage, many homeowners may be searching for ways to reduce their bills as well as their energy usage.
How to Lower Electric Bills
The U.S. Department of Energy reported that the average family’s utility bill is roughly $2,200.00 a year. One way to reduce these bills is to have solar panels installed. While savings will vary, households can usually save an average of $84.00 a month. Furthermore, having solar panels installed can significantly reduce a household’s carbon footprint. On average, this can amount to an annual reduction of 35,180 pounds of carbon dioxide.
Another way to save energy and reduce electrical bills is to unplug televisions, computers, and similar devices. This is because home electronics still use energy when they’re turned off. This amounts to about 75% of their overall energy usage.
During cold weather, homeowners can also save money when they have a programmable thermostat. According to estimates made by the Environmental Protection Agency, when these thermostats are properly programmed, homeowners can potentially save up to $180.00 a year. When families are out of the house for the day or on vacation, these thermostats can be programmed to maintain a lower temperature. The thermostat can then be programmed to raise the temperature for when they plan to return home.
Energy Efficient Lighting Ideas
According to Department of Energy statistics, lighting utilizes roughly 22% of the electricity generated within this country. When households are searching for lighting ideas, LEDs, rather than standard halogen lights, are an energy-efficient choice. This is because LEDs provide 85% more light while using just 15% of the energy that a halogen light would use. When homeowners visit a lighting showroom, they’ll be able to see a large selection of light fixtures with LEDs, many of which are available in a variety of colors. If you’re looking for lighting ideas for your outdoor entertaining spaces, LEDs are also a popular choice.
Contact Your Local Electrical Contractor
Whether you’re planning to have solar panels installed, an existing lighting system retrofitted, or have another electrical project in mind, contact your local contractor for a consultation. Since there’s an excellent chance that you want your home to be as energy efficient as possible. your contractor will be able to provide you with additional recommendations. Once you’ve taken these and other steps to ensure that your home is energy efficient, you’ll notice the difference on your utility bills as well.