Tips to Reduce Overall Costs and Improve Efficiency in the Home

It goes without saying that you work hard for your money. As a result, you are constantly on the lookout for ways to save as much cash as possible. At the same time, you also value efficiency, and want to be sure your entire household is functioning in both a cost-effective and energy-efficient way.

Here’s some great news: with some minor adjustments to the way you do things around the home with your water, computer and electricity usage, your home will run more smoothly and economically:

Use Less H2O, Save More Money

Small changes in your water usage can add up to significant savings throughout the year. Start by inspecting your appliances to look for leaks and drips; this includes all sinks and faucets, toilets and the dishwasher. Fixing just one leak can save you up to 20 gallons of water a day, which can definitely have a positive impact on your water bill, according to the EPA. You can also look into installing low-flow toilets, which will save two to five gallons per flush. Upgrading to Energy Star appliances, as the budget allows, will also allow you to cut back on both your water use and energy bill; for instance, an Energy Star washer uses 20 to 30 fewer gallons of water per cycle.

Finally, while you might believe that hand-washing your dishes saves on H2O, a dishwasher is actually the better bet. A typical dishwasher uses about 6 gallons in a cycle, while the water that comes out of your tap runs about 2 gallons per minute. Unless you are quickly washing and rinsing a few plates and cups, you will use less water with a dishwasher.

Look Into Installing WiFi

Another way to improve the efficiency of your home is by installing a home mesh WiFi system. Wondering what a mesh WiFi system is? Essentially it is an easy way to extend the WiFi range throughout your entire home. For instance, with a whole-home WiFi system, you can enjoy strong internet connections wherever you use your devices. If you have a home office and do quite a bit of work on your computer, and you also like to stream movies on your flat-screen TV in the family room, a mesh WiFi system will give you a strong internet connection in both places, regardless of where you put your router. This will lead to greater efficiency with your electronics throughout the home.

Be Smart with Electricity

To save money while using electricity more efficiently, you can start with the light bulbs in your home. As the US Department of Energy notes, LED lights will use at least 75 percent less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lights. Also, consider investing in a programmable thermostat that will automatically raise and lower the heat and/or A/C setting depending on when you are home; this one tip can save up to 10 percent on heating and cooling costs. Finally, inquire if your local power company offers a Time of Use plan; if you can adjust when you do your laundry, run your dishwasher and other appliances to the less-costly times on the plan, you can enjoy significant savings.

Improve Efficiency and Lower Your Bills, All at Once

If it feels like your bills are controlling your budget instead of the other way around, it is definitely time to make some adjustments in your home. Fortunately, by trying these simple-but-effective tips, you should see tangible improvements in both the efficiency of your home as well as in your bills.