One surefire way to save money on energy bills is to take these simple steps before you leave on vacation. It may feel daunting to add yet one more task before you leave town — from stopping the mail and making sure your pets are taken care of to securing your home from intruders. But one thing you don’t want to worry about is spending more on utilities than necessary while you’re away.
Save money on energy bills the easy way
During an especially warm summer, homes can consume around 82% of their normal energy even when unoccupied — averaging an unnecessary expense of about $590. And, since a typical electricity bill can average about $173 a month, up from $168 last year, it would help to know these seven easy steps you can take to save on your energy bills.
1. Program your thermostat
Setting your thermostat at a higher or lower temperature when you leave can save you money on your utility bill. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, set it to ‘vacation’ mode. Adjusting your manual unit a few degrees up or down can also have a significant impact. In fact, according to Duke Energy, a change of just three degrees for 24 hours a day can save 30% on your energy costs. Or, if you’re not leaving for an extended time and the forecast calls for mild weather, consider turning the system off.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
2. Unplug appliances and electronics
When electrical appliances, "energy vampires," are plugged into an outlet, they use energy even when turned off, which can account for up to 10% of your energy bill. To save money, unplug all large and small electrical appliances, such as your computer, cable box, coffee maker, microwave, printer, television and toaster.
3. Turn off or turn down the water heater
“Water heating accounts for up to 25% of the energy a home consumes, and you won’t even be there to use it,” says Mark Feygin, founder and CEO of PowerSetter. “Switch off the water heater at the breaker while your home is vacant … but remember to leave yourself a note to turn it back on again when you return.” Turning off your water heater also prevents any unexpected malfunctions while away, like a water leak and flooding.
Many water heaters also have a vacation setting, usually found on the temperature dial. Adjusting it to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or the lowest setting available can help you save money while away.
4. Put lights on timers
Although simply turning off the lights saves you money while on vacation, many people choose to keep the lights on for security reasons. Instead of leaving the lamps lit all day and night, install timers and take the worry out of how much energy you’re using. Keep in mind that while incandescent bulbs can get hot and overheat, LED lights save more energy and can be left on for extended periods of time without overheating, according to energy.gov.
5. Keep window coverings half-way or all the way closed
Your house will stay cool, and you’ll save energy by keeping window shades and blinds closed when the temperature climbs. Feygin recommends keeping window coverings closed while away. “If the sun has had weeks to raise the temperature in your home uninterrupted, it’s going to take a whole lot of work for your air conditioner to cool it once you get back.” Plus, the afternoon sun can make your home hot and unbearable for pets if left alone.
Similarly, Feygin adds, “Reflective film can stop heat from entering your home by bouncing back the sun’s rays, making it easier to maintain a comfortable temperature. Less heat buildup while you’re away means less reliance on air conditioning once you return.”
However, you may not want to advertise you are physically away, and closed curtains can give the impression that nobody is home. So, before you leave on an extended vacation, the experts at Duke Energy suggest leaving your curtains or blinds halfway open and investing in a smart security system.
6. Keep your refrigerator half-full
A fully stocked refrigerator stays colder than an empty one. Although you may want to remove all the food from your fridge when leaving town, keeping your refrigerator and freezer at least half full is actually more energy efficient. But if you just can’t fathom the thought of coming home to sour milk, fill your fridge and freezer with full water bottles or ice trays, and adjust the thermostats on your refrigerator and freezer to a higher setting — 38 degrees F for the refrigerator and 5 degrees F for the freezer. If you leave for more than four weeks, you will probably want to empty and unplug your fridge.
7. More ways to save while away
Before you walk out the door, add these other “to dos” to your list and save even more on your energy bill.
- Turn off both ceiling and personal fans.
- Drain and winterize your hot tub, or unplug the hot tub heater.
- Turn off or lower the temperature on the heater for your swimming pool, but leave the pool pump on.
- Unplug your window air conditioner.
- Unplug any landscaping water features if not absolutely needed, or set them to come on less often or for a shorter period of time.
Related Content
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Rally Despite Rising Geopolitical TensionThe main indexes were mixed on Tuesday but closed well off their lows after an early flight to safety.
-
What's at Stake for Alphabet as DOJ Eyes Google's ChromeAlphabet is higher Tuesday even as antitrust officials at the DOJ support forcing Google to sell its popular web browser. Here's what you need to know.
-
Six Ways to Optimize Your Charitable Giving Before Year-EndAs 2024 winds down, right now is the time to look at how you plan to handle your charitable giving. The sooner you start, the more tax-efficient you can be.
-
Structured Settlement Annuity vs Lump-Sum Payout: Which Is Better?As the use of structured settlement annuities grows, it can be tough to decide whether to take the lump sum to invest or opt instead for guaranteed payments.
-
What to Do as Soon as Your Divorce Is FinalDon't delay — getting these tasks accomplished as soon as possible can help you avoid costly consequences.
-
How to Fight Inflation's Hidden Threat to Your SavingsIf higher prices are putting your savings goals on hold, you're in danger of financial erosion. Fortunately, several strategies can help stop the spread.
-
Seven Luxury Places to See the Northern Lights This WinterThe northern lights will be at their most captivating this winter. Fancy making them even more magical? From hotels on ice to glass cabins and mountain yurts, here are seven places to see the northern lights with luxury winter stays.
-
Does a Farm Need a Different Homeowners Insurance Policy?Homeowners insurance is all about providing the right tool for the right exposure, and life on the farm comes with different risks than life in the city.
-
How One Caregiver Is Navigating a Loved One's DementiaShe's spent many hours doing research and speaking with other caregivers to find her way to resources designed to help caregivers.
-
October CPI Report Hits the Mark: What the Experts Are Saying About InflationCPI While the current pace of rising prices appears to have leveled off, the expected path of rate cuts has become less certain.
