A great start to cutting cost in your home is to program your thermostat. It is so easy to get in the habit of adjusting the thermostats at the first sight of a heat wave. There is nothing worse than being miserably hot in the place where you come to find rest. By programming your thermostat as it correlates to your schedule, you can cut your bill down quite a bit. Research shows that by programming your thermostat back 7 to 8 degrees for 8 hours a day, can save you as much as 10% a year. If there are days of the week that you are consistently out of the house for hours, try setting your thermostat to 78 degrees (75 degrees if you have indoor animals). About 30 minutes prior to your return, program your thermostat to 72-73 degrees to cut costs. If 72 degrees is not cool enough, don’t be afraid to utilize the fans in your home for circulation, but avoid arctic temperatures!

Another easy way to cut costs in your home is a discipline that most people never think about, unplugging devices after use. You would be amazed at how many devices use electricity when they are not in use. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that between 5 and 10 percent of your energy bill each year may come from devices that are plugged in but are not being used. Get in the habit of unplugging those chargers, lamps, televisions, toasters and even coffee makers. These small things can go a long way!

During the summer months, the sun stays up longer. Closing your blinds during the day can help keep your home cool and opening them in the evening for natural sunlight can help cut back on the expenses used for lighting. If you are not already doing it, make it a habit to start turning off lights when they are not being used. At John Houston Custom Homes, we see first-hand the importance of electrical efficiency. We hope you will find these tools useful and effective in your home.

Next week on The Story, we will be talking about ways to make moving into your new home less stressful! Stay tuned.