If you are looking to optimize your home’s energy usage to match your specific needs and interests, you have a greater array of options to consider than ever before.
You could opt for a significant, long-term investment, like adding solar panels to your roof. You could complete a few DIY weatherization projects over the weekend, or you could take any number of actions in between, such as enrolling in community solar, signing up for a new electric rate plan or installing a smart thermostat.
As the year winds down and we turn the page to 2025, we look back at some of “greatest hits” from the blog this year and provide our five best tips from 2024:
1. Get a better understanding of what your bills are telling you.
If you’re interested in becoming a smarter energy consumer, having a solid grasp on what your monthly energy bill is telling you is a great starting place. Your bill has helpful information on how you’re being charged for the energy you’re using and your typical habits for using energy at home, and it can help you develop a plan for saving energy. First, get a grasp of your typical kilowatt-hours (kWh) usage and how that changes throughout the year. Then, look at other factors that impact your bills, like how many days are in your current billing cycle, how recent weather compares to other months and what other fees are added. Learn three helpful tips for understanding your bills here.
2. Find out which electric rate you’re on and what your options are.
Did you know that you price you pay per kWh on your monthly bill can vary quite a bit? While a fixed rate plan with the same price at all times is still standard in many areas, there are now other options that may be able to help you save on your bills. On your journey to becoming a smarter energy consumer, you will definitely want to know your current rate plan as this can impact how you use electricity throughout the day. Once you know your rate, you can see what other options are available through your power company – and whether they offer tools that can help you pick a new plan or ease the transition to a new plan. Learn whether you should switch to a new rate here.
3. Consider signing up for a community solar program.
If you can’t have solar panels on your roof, don’t worry – there are still ways to access renewable energy. Community solar programs offer a way for consumers and business owners to benefit from solar energy without installing panels on their property. Participants in community solar subscribe to, or sometimes own, a portion of the energy from a solar farm in their area and receive bill credits for the electricity their share produces. These programs can lead to savings on your power bills and also support the clean energy transition by lowering your carbon footprint and by making renewable energy accessible to more people. Learn three things to consider before signing up here.
4. Weatherize your home to maximize any energy-efficiency upgrades.
Despite all the advanced technology available today, weatherization – the process of protecting your home against the elements – is still one of the best energy-related tasks you can do at home. Install weather-stripping around doors and windows to stop leaks and use caulk to seal smaller gaps and cracks in the home’s structure, including heating ducts and window frames. You can add insulation to the attic and other areas to keep heat inside and reduce energy expenses. These simple steps can help make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient during the colder months to come – and next summer too. Learn more about the three ways to weatherize your home here.
5. Research heat pumps and consider one for your next HVAC system.
Replacing your HVAC unit is one of the biggest decisions you make as a homeowner. There’s a lot of options out there, and they all have unique pros and cons. But did you know that there’s a highly efficient appliance that can both heat and cool your home, while also saving you money and reducing your environmental impact? Meet the air-source heat pump. According to the Department of Energy, heat pumps can reduce your electricity use by 50 percent compared to furnaces and baseboard heaters. Before you have an urgent need for an HVAC upgrade, look into heat pumps and see if one is right for your home – and don’t forget to check if any incentives or rebates are available! Learn three questions to ask about heat pumps here.
With the wide range of options out there, there’s never been a better time to become a more educated and empowered energy consumer. Start with the basics of understanding your bill and your electric rate, and you’ll soon have a solid foundation for reaching your energy goals. To learn more, read our other blog posts from 2024 and continue following next year.
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