Simple strategies can lead to big savings when your electric bill rolls in at the end of the month. According to Mary Hunt, author of “Stop the Energy Drain” , one gentleman reduced his power consumption by 75% resulting in a bill of approximately $30 for a 2,200 square foot home. This may seem an insurmountable goal but we have several simple ideas to help you cut cost and save on energy.

The first step is to insulate your house and heat sources. In the sunshine state where we are blessed with warm sunny days throughout the year, it is important to keep the heat outside and the cool air inside. Check all door and windows to be sure that they are properly sealed. A simple test involves holding a candle near the door or window and blow air from the other side (a hair dryer works just fine). If the flame flickers, you have a leak. Change the weather stripping in those areas that fail the test. Also, insulate your outlets and light switches which are two sources one does not typically attribute to a heat source. A specially made foam gasket will treat this problem.

Set your thermostat up when you are away. While you are out enjoying the beach, golf and all that Naples, Florida has to offer, turn your thermostat up to 80º so the air conditioner does not turn on. Some AC controls have automatic settings to leave the temperature at one setting during the day and another at night.

Do not use exhaust fans. In one hour, a bathroom or kitchen exhaust fan can suck all the cool air from your home according to the article.

Check your appliances. On several different appliances you may adjust the settings to use more energy efficient cycles. Wash your clothes using cold or warm water instead of hot water. Turn the thermostat on your hot water heater down to 120º and you will not notice the difference. If you have older appliances and are looking to upgrade, purchase those with the “Energy Star Certification”. One simple solution is to clean out your refrigerator. If it is over-packed, the cool air will not circulate and the compressor will continually run.

Turn items off that you are not using. Walk through your home at night with all the lights out and look for those little lights that show up everywhere. Items like the cable box, VCR, sound systems and coffee makers drain energy even while not in use.

Of course, Team Harris can’t guarantee you an energy bill of $30 using these simple solutions, but every little bit helps. If you think we gave you good advice in this article, we can give you expert advice when it comes to Naples, Florida real estate. Please give us a call for all your Naples estate needs.