How to Save on Energy While Working From Home

Because of the global pandemic effects, many businesses were forced to shut down or at least minimize their workforce. Still, some companies allowed their employees to work from home to lower their risk of contracting the virus and stay productive.

While working at home would mean more people staying at home and higher energy bills, there are steps you can take to lessen your expenses on power.

Four Seasons Air Specialists is your trusted HVAC company in Woodbury MN. We can help you establish an energy-efficient home while making sure everybody stays comfortable all year long.

Say No to Standby Mode

You may not realize, but letting your appliances and gadgets plugged in even when no one uses them actually consumes energy. Modern devices have a standby or phantom power that allows them to achieve some nice tricks. This technology lets you quickly turn the TV back on by a touch on the remote control. This feature also enables your satellite or cable box to update your TV guide. 

Unfortunately, this nifty aspect of modern appliances adds up to your monthly energy bills. According to the Department of Energy, standby energy costs US homes over $100 per year.

If you find unplugging all of your unused appliances one by one a little annoying, you might want to invest in power strips, which will ensure that all devices in your home are not using power.

Insulate Your Water Heater Tank

Nearly every homeowner understands the importance of quality insulation in terms of saving on energy. But have you considered insulating your hot water tank as well? This little secret is an easy and affordable way to improve your home’s energy efficiency and save you money every month.

If you have an older tank, check its insulation rating. An R-value of lower than 24 means the tank needs a boost in insulation, which can reduce standby heat losses by as much as 25 to 45 percent and help you slash 7 to 16 percent off your water heating costs. That’s according to the Department of Energy.

If your tank does not indicate its R-value, what you can do is to touch it. If it is warm to the touch, it means it needs more insulation.

Be Clever in Using Your Appliances

The energy consumption of your household appliances doesn’t only depend on the brand or model, but also on how you use them. It makes sense to wash the dishes by hand, but it’s not always the most energy-efficient way. If you have a dishwasher, opt to run a full load of dishes and be sure to turn off heated dry or any other additional options you don’t need.

Also, your washing machine doesn’t necessarily use too much energy unless you wash in hot water. Therefore, wash your clothes in cold water and, if possible, hang them to dry overnight instead of spinning them in your dryer, which uses a lot of energy to generate heat.

Clean Your Filters

Since you will be working at home, you will likely run your HVAC system for the whole day. This round the clock operation also means the filters catch more dust, dirt, and other airborne particles that can compromise the system’s airflow. When an HVAC system works with a clogged filter, it is forced to work much harder to reach your desired settings. That’s why you may want to think about cleaning those filters at least once every 30 days. This simple step can help you save on energy, which you can use for other household expenses.

Invest in Professional HVAC Maintenance

Your HVAC systems constitute about half of your monthly energy costs, and the numbers can get higher if they are working under less desirable conditions. To ensure your air conditioner or furnace works as effortlessly as possible, schedule a maintenance check-up with Four Seasons Air Specialists. We have teams of highly-trained NATE-certified HVAC technicians who can take care of your HVAC systems and make sure they run as efficiently as possible. We are your reliable Vadnais Heights heating and air conditioning company.