The COVID-19 quarantine has many of us working from home indefinitely around the nation. Regardless of where you live, your home’s energy use will see more activity than usual. Tried and true, these tips will help save your energy throughout the day and ultimately help shrink your electric bill in the long run.
1. Use Your Blinds Strategically
Considering that most of us are stuck inside working from home or taking care of the kiddos, opening the blinds for some sunshine can help alleviate the feeling of being cooped up. However, if you’re starting to feel too much heat, instead of cranking up your AC, try closing your blinds periodically. If you have curtains, you can use those as well to help alleviate the heat from entering your home.
2. Unplug!
This isn’t our first mention of energy vampires on the Frontier blog, but with the extra devices in your home (computer monitors, work laptops, printers, etc.) it can be easy to forget to unplug everything when it’s not in use. If unplugging and plugging back is too much of a hassle, consider investing in Wi-Fi plugs around your home. From an app, you can shut off the power for any electrical outlet that has a Wi-Fi plug.
3. Lock In a Low Rate Now
We’re all about low fixed electricity rates at Frontier Utilities. The benefits of locking in a low rate now can make your electric bill a lot more predictable than having a variable rate plan. Your weekend energy use is going to spill into the weekdays as your entire household is home and an influx of energy is being used beyond just your home office. See what low rates you can lock in from us today: http://bit.ly/SecureYourRateToday
4. Use Your Computer’s Built-In Power Management
Optimizing all of the built-in settings that your computer has for energy efficiency can save you up to $100 per computer annually in electricity costs. Energy Star has compiled a great resource to see what your computer software has for these features: https://www.energystar.gov/products/low_carbon_it_campaign/power_management_computer
5. Replace Your Home’s Filters
With all this free time we have at home, use it to quickly change your home’s air filters. Dirty filters will make your system work harder and run longer than necessary.
6. Pull the Grill Out!
No need to use the oven every day to cook your lunches and dinners- this can actually make your AC work harder due to the extra heat in the house. Dust and take the grill out and utilize it while the weather is nice. Not only will this keep the heat out of the house, but your kiddos will enjoy the extra outdoor playtime!
7. Use Your Blankets
Are you working in a room that may be chillier than the rest of the house? Instead of turning on the heater, utilize your blankets. It may seem like a no-brainer, but most forget that every degree of extra heating or cooling will increase energy usage 6% to 8%. So bust out those cozy blankets and fuzzy socks- pajamas are optional too since you’re working from home!
8. Don’t Overdo It With Chores
Being home all day will naturally want to make you clean and do house chores that you normally wouldn’t do until the evening. Don’t let the quarantine mess with your schedule. Stick to using dishwashers and clothes washers/dryers at night. This will keep the house cooler and reduce strain on the power grid during the peak usage hours of 4 PM and 6 PM
9. Teach Your Household to Keep The Lights Off
If you have kiddos, they’re not used to being home all day, every day. Take the time to start teaching them on easy ways to conserve energy, such as your home’s lighting. Teaching them to turn off the lights after they leave each room is a great lesson to learn at their age. Did you know that lighting accounts for about 12% of a typical residential utility bill?
10. Avoid Working Longer Hours
This is as simple as just cutting down on screen time when you’re not actually working. It’s easy to work longer hours as office distractions have been removed from your work setting. Take a lunch break and set your hours as you typically would in an office setting. Not only will this make a difference in your computer’s energy use, but your productivity will benefit as well.
With everything that we’re trying to do to flatten the curve and maintaining our households, your home’s electric bill shouldn’t be another worry. With a combination of these tips and a locked in low fixed rate plan from Frontier, you’ll be set to keep your home’s energy affordable. See what low rates you can lock in today: http://bit.ly/SecureYourRateToday