Reduce Your Heating Bill & Carbon Footprint

Saving energy saves you money as well as reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. Burning less fossil fuels lowers CO2 emissions, which is the primary cause of global warming.

Follow these eco-friendly tips to help save on heating bills this winter, while using less energy and helping the environment.

• Use natural heat and light.
  Open your blinds to let light and heat in from the sun to help brighten and warm up your house throughout the day.

• Seal all windows and doors.
  If there's a draft from any door or window, make sure they are properly sealed or closed so that heat stays in your home. If you're a tenant in one of our homes and notice there is a draft in your home, please locate the issue and let our maintenance team know so that we can address the problem. You can request maintenance through your tenant portal.
  
• Use your ceiling fan.
  Turn on the ceiling fan in the winter, and reverse it so that it will push down the warm air.
  

• Keep window coverings closed at night.
  Keep the cold out by lining your blinds, drapes, or curtains at night.
  
• Keep the thermostat down.
  Lower the temperature on your thermostat during winter. This is so simple to do and is one of the most effective ways to save energy in your home. By raising and lowering the temperature in the summer and winter, you can save 10 percent in energy use.
  
• Adjust heat on a room-to-room basis.
  If you're able to adjust the heat on a room-to-room basis, turn the heat down to 55°F in the rooms you are not using.
  
• Keep water heater down.
  Turn down your water heater to a comfortable 120°F. This reduces the loss of energy, as well as the risk of scalding.
  
• Reduce the time you spend using hot water.
  Take shower instead of baths, and shorten the length of your shower as well. Only run the dishwasher and the washer when they are full.
  
• Set up a programmable thermostat.
  If you already have one installed in your home, use it to your advantage. It can automatically control the temperature throughout the day, even when you are not home.
  

• Replace air filters for your furnace.
  It's important to change the filters every few months because a dirty filter can cut off warm air.
  Turn your refrigerator down.
  
• Refrigerators use about 20% of the electricity in your home. Use a thermometer to se your refrigerator to 37­°F and your freezer to 3°F. Turn the energy saver on, check for loose gaskets, and make sure your refrigerator closes tightly.
  
• Insulate your unheated basement and attic.
  By insulating your basement ceiling, you will be able to keep the home's floors warmer. In the attic, add insulation to the rafters or crawl spaces.
  
• Insulate old water heaters.
  By adding insulation to your old water heater, you prevent heat from escaping.
  If you have an old water heater, consider changing it to one that is more energy efficient. Unfortunately, buying a new water heater is a big ticket item for homeowners. Fortunately, for our tenants however, your homes have already been updated with newer energy efficient water heaters and do not need to worry about this! As per requirement in our property management agreement, your landlord has likely already installed a recent model to maintain your home in a condition fit for human habitation.
  
• Install low-flow showerheads.
  Low-flow showerheads will allow you to use less hot water while in the shower, thus helping reduce the energy it takes to heat water.
  

• Turn off the lights .
  When you leave a room, turn off the lights.
  
• Replace your light bulbs.
  Use compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs when you need lighting for a long amount of time. Traditional incandescent light bulbs consume a considerable amount of energy in comparison to energy efficient alternatives.
  Although energy efficient light bulbs are more expensive to purchase up-front, their efficient energy usage and longer lifetimes mean that they will cost you less in the long run.
  
• Purchase energy efficient appliances.
  Appliances are the cause for about 13% of total household energy use. Consider the initial purchase price and the annual operating cost when purchasing a new home appliance. Like the energy efficient light bulbs, energy efficient appliances also have a higher upfront purchase price. However, they are designed to have lower operating costs than conventional models. You'll often find a difference between 9%-25% in operating expenses. Look for the ENERGY STAR label to help guide you on your purchase.
  Home appliances are a big purchase and often quite costly. Luckily for you, tenants of Revitalize Realty LLC properties don't need to worry about buying energy efficient appliances since we provide them for you with the property you rent with us.

Saving energy not only helps the environment, but also lowers monthly bills.

Please let us know in the comments below if any of these tips have helped you or if you're already doing any of them. We'd love to hear your thoughts.