Man adjusting the temperature on the thermostat of his house

1Skimping on Home Insulation Products

If you want to save energy and money in your household, don’t make the mistake of purchasing insulation products that that are made with inferior materials. The best choice for a strong home insulation product in most conditions is blown-in cellulose or spray foam insulation. Savvy contractors know to avoid purchasing rolled and batted insulation as a cheap alternative. Rolls and batts can make installation faster and easier for the inexperienced. However, these lower quality choices do not compete with blown-in cellulose and spray foam insulation in long term energy savings.

2Not Taking Advantage of Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

Energy efficient lightbulbs can be a lifesaver for households that want to better conserve energy. Although they can sometimes cost more upfront, with time they save consumers a significant amount of money. Energy efficient light bulbs make major impact on efficiency and cost. Energy efficient lightbulbs require at least 75 percent less energy, a significant improvement on incandescent bulbs. If you want to save energy like a seasoned expert, you should consider replacing any standard light bulbs in your home as soon as possible. The sooner you switch, the more you save!

3Failing to Shut Off Lights and Computers

We live in an increasingly digital world, and it’s common for people to keep their desktop and laptop computers running day and night. Personal electronics are responsible for a large part of wasted energy. If you want to save yourself from excessive energy bills every month, take the time to shut down your computers and unplug chargers from the wall when they’re not in use. A small amount of effort can go a long way for people who are serious about smart energy conservation strategies. It’s just as important to switch lights off when they’re not in use as well. Keeping the lights on when you’re not around is a total waste. It only takes a second to shut a light off, too.

4Avoiding the Benefits of Natural Light

Natural light can be great for your health and creates a beautiful full spectrum glow inside your home. If you want to save more energy, one of the first things you can do is make use of natural light sources. Skylights can give you the freedom to turn off the lights and the power meter during most daylight hours. Consider installing extra windows in locations that require more illumination for a permanent fix. Like skylights, a spare window can make artificial lighting totally unnecessary when it’s bright outside. Natural light has important and overlooked health, environmental, and financial benefits, and can provide extra warmth in the winter months as well.

5Dismissing Routine Residential Energy Audits

Residential energy audits can be an invaluable resource for households that want to save on energy. If you want to find out exactly how you can boost the energy efficiency of your home or business, nothing will beat the insight a professional energy audit can offer. A residential energy auditor can evaluate your property to determine the best way to strengthen your energy efficiency. If you want to go the extra mile and figure out what you should do to limit energy prices in your home or business, an energy audit will give you clear guidance. Saving energy doesn’t have to be hard, and these tips will make saving money easy. If you want to steer clear of typical energy mistakes, stay focused and be proactive!