{"id":1170,"date":"2020-12-29T14:22:59","date_gmt":"2020-12-29T20:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/?p=1170"},"modified":"2021-05-03T11:33:25","modified_gmt":"2021-05-03T16:33:25","slug":"new-years-resolutions-to-save-energy-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/new-years-resolutions-to-save-energy-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"New Year&#8217;s Resolutions to Save Energy At Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_753\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-753\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-753 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/iStock-909044958-300x182.jpg\" alt=\"Resolve to use less! Learn how you can save energy at home and save money on your Ohio utility bills with our great ten tips!\" width=\"300\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/iStock-909044958-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/iStock-909044958-230x140.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/iStock-909044958-350x212.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/iStock-909044958-480x291.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/iStock-909044958.jpg 758w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-753\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center><em>Resolve to use less! Follow our great ten tips and learn how you can save energy at home this new year!<\/em><\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Start the New Year With Savings!<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">If you\u2019re like one of the many Ohioans looking to save energy on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/resources\/10-quick-energy-saving-tips\">your utility bill<\/a> in 2021, you might be a little overwhelmed where to start. We\u2019ve made that easy with 10 useful resolutions to help make your 2021 the most energy efficient year you\u2019ve had!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>1. Window Wishes<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Drafty windows can leak a huge amount cold air into your home. If you can&#8217;t replace them, then look for ways to stop the drafts with caulk or weatherstripping. Another solution is to block gaps between your window sashes with\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"s1\">draft guards or \u201cwindow worms\u201d. Simple draperies can also\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/energy-efficient-window-attachments\">reduce heat loss<\/a>\u00a0by 10% in winter and block hot sun in summer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>2. Wash Full Loads Of Laundry<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Full loads of laundry use less water and less electricity. But if you\u2019re using old laundry machines, then upgrade to an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.energystar.gov\/\"><b>EnergyStar<\/b><\/a>\u00a0qualified\u00a0washer that can save you money on both your electricity and water bill. Some washers even adjust to the weight of the clothes you put in them, using only the electricity and water the cycle needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>3. Use Your Programmable Thermostat!<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Did you get a new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energystar.gov\/products\/smart_home_tips\/smart_thermostats\">smart thermostat<\/a> for the holidays, or does your house already have a programmable thermostat? Bust out the manual and start using it to it\u2019s full potential! By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/06\/is-it-cheaper-to-leave-your-thermostat-set-to-one-temperature\">setting back your thermostat<\/a> when no one is home or active, you can save while not even knowing it!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>4. Get Your Chimney Cleaned<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Maintaining your chimney can not only help save you money but also prevent house fires! Cracks, blockages, creosote can damage your chimney, affect the efficiency of your wood stove, and pose a fire risk. Regular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csia.org\/faq.html\">chimney inspection<\/a> and cleaning can help keep your family warm and safe in the new year.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>5. Stop Things Sitting In Standby<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Your television, that sweet new gaming system you got for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/19\/five-great-gift-ideas-for-energy-efficiency\">the holidays<\/a>, your computer &#8211;all these things are vampires on your electricity! While newer EnergyStar appliances don\u2019t consume as much power during standby mode, they\u2019re still slowly drain electricity even when they&#8217;re off. Use power strips to take control and turn them off when they&#8217;re not needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>6. Swap Your Lightbulbs!<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Toss out those old incandescent bulbs for some great LED bulbs! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/energysaver\/save-electricity-and-fuel\/lighting-choices-save-you-money\/how-energy-efficient-light\">LED bulbs<\/a> not only last thousands of hour longer, but they use about one-tenth the energy! If you have continuous running lights (nightlights, decorations, etc) consider getting LED versions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>7. A Better Bathtime<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Yes, shorter showers do use less hot water. But if you love a good shower and still need to save energy, install a low-flow shower head. These use only 2.5 gallons per minute but you still come out squeaky clean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>8. Use Your Biggest Fan<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Use <a href=\"http:\/\/www.occ.ohio.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/publications\/energy_efficiency\/Beat_the_Heat_Summer_Cooling_Tips.pdf\">ceiling fans<\/a>\u00a0in winter to help circulate the warm air in your home more evenly without raising the temperature. In the summer, a little breeze is all you need to make your nights more comfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>9. Bulk Up Your Insulation<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">With only 3 to 4 inches, most Ohio homes lose a lot of heat through under-insulated attics. The ideal amount is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energystar.gov\/campaign\/seal_insulate\/do_it_yourself_guide\/adding_attic_insulation\">10 to 14 inches<\/a>. By increasing the insulation in your home, you&#8217;ll not not only enjoy\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/resources\/high-ohio-electricity-bill\">saving money on your utility bills<\/a>\u00a0 but you&#8217;ll notice improved comfort immediately!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>10. Switch and Save with Ohio Energy Ratings!<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Switch to a low <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/ohio-electricity-rates-by-city\">electricity rate<\/a> for the new year and save!\u00a0Check out rates for your area\u00a0and find the perfect plan for you! With hundreds of different options, we can show you some of the best ways to save energy all year round. Plus, we cover energy news, new rates, and helpful tips and tricks. You can check out more at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\">www.ohenergyratings.com<\/a> and shop for yourself!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Start the New Year With Savings! If you\u2019re like one of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mbp_gutenberg_autopost":false},"categories":[43,9,48,49,44,50],"tags":[38],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1170"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1170"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1334,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1170\/revisions\/1334"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ohenergyratings.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}