Alure’s 4 tips to reduce your energy consumption

Whether it’s the air conditioner in the summer or the heater in the winter, your home’s energy consumption can quickly become expensive. No one wants to use more energy in his or her house than necessary, but it’s not always easy to tell where you should try to cut back. Here are a few tips from Alure Home Improvements that can help you reduce the amount of energy your family uses.

Don’t take your refrigerator for granted Refrigerators can be a great design and function piece in new custom kitchens, but they can also be a significant source of power waste. Long Island Power recommended that homeowners check the seal in their refrigerator to make sure that no cold air is leaking out. This could cause your fridge to work harder and consume unnecessary power. Refrigerators that are located near ovens may use more power to counter the other appliance’s heat.

LI Power also recommended against secondary fridges in the garage because they can cost upward of $200 a year to operate.

Think about hot weather alternatives When the temperature feels like it’s in the triple digits for months, you want to crank up the air conditioner to create a cool sanctuary, but this can make your electricity bill shoot through the roof. Energy Smart Long Island suggested that homeowners use a number of other techniques to keep a cool atmosphere without making the AC work overtime.

Changing your air conditioner’s filter monthly, moving furniture away from vents and keeping the other components of your unit clean all ensure its most efficient operation. Cooking outside on the grill and avoiding the oven can also help prevent your home from needing more air conditioning. Preventing the sun from passively heating your home with window treatments can also help your house stay cold without wasting energy.

Move to energy-efficient appliances If you’re thinking about a kitchen renovation or a remodeling of any other space, it’s a great excuse to install energy-efficient appliances. Look for EnergyStar options for everything from light bulbs to dishwashers. That way you’ll know you’re cutting your energy bill and carbon footprint.

Unplug and monitor usage The Natural Resources Defense Council advised homeowners to unplug their electronics more often. Chargers, laptops and nearly anything that’s plugged in uses electricity even when it’s not being used itself. These small amounts of lost power can quickly add up to a significant waste. You can also talk to your energy company to find out where the most power is being drawn from and then make alterations to your usage based off of this.