The Energy saving series – Bedroom Edition saw
first print on saveonenergy.com by Caitlin
Cosper |
No one wants to spend more on monthly energy bills. One of
the quickest ways to reduce your electricity bill is by trimming back
your energyconsumption. It may come as a surprise, but your bedroom can consume a
lot of electricity each month.
SaveOnEnergy is here with tips to help you lower your
electricity usage with our energy-saving series. We’re going room by room to
help you make sure your home is functioning at peak efficiency. In this week’s installment,
we look at how to save energy in the bedroom.
Thermostat:
It’s no surprise that heating and cooling are two of the
main culprits when it comes to energy consumption. In fact, Energy Star
estimates that about 43 percent of a year’s energy bills go toward
heating and air conditioning.
In your bedroom, the thermostat setting can impact your
quality of sleep. So, how can you lower your heating and cooling costs without
sacrificing a good night’s sleep? Here are some of our top tips:
- Turning
your thermostat’s setting back 7-10 degrees for eight hours each day could
save you up to 10 percent a year. If you’re going to the office each day or headed
out on a holiday shopping trip, remember to lower your thermostat so you
aren’t paying to heat an empty house.
- In the
winter, the ideal setting for your thermostat is 68 degrees Fahrenheit
while you’re awake. When you leave the house or go to sleep, follow the
tip above!
- Opting
for a smart thermostat can help you reduce your home’s energy consumption.
Programmable thermostats will work to heat your home to normal
temperatures before you wake up or get home from work. And if you invest
in a smart thermostat, you could control your home’s temperature remotely.
- The
location of your thermostat matters. If placed in an inefficient spot,
your thermostat could have “ghost readings” where it runs heating or
cooling cycles unnecessarily. According to the Department of Energy, thermostats should be placed on an
interior wall away from direct sunlight, doors, skylights, and windows.
Ceiling fans:
Ceiling fans offer another way to control your home’s
temperature without breaking the bank. In fact, ceiling fans are twice as
energy efficient as your air conditioning.
On average, it costs about one cent an hour to run a ceiling fan. Here are a
few ways to use your ceiling fans to your advantage:
- In the
colder months, switch your ceiling fan’s direction to clockwise. A
clockwise motion will pull hot air down from the ceiling. This will help
keep you warm while using half as much energy as your A/C.
- When
paired with an energy efficient AC system, ceiling fans can control your
home’s temperature at a fraction of the cost during warmer months. With
your ceiling fans running, you can increase the temperature of your
thermostat by four degrees without sacrificing comfort.
- Remember
to turn your ceiling fans off when you aren’t in the room. Ceiling fans
don’t actually cool the room, they just create a wind-chill effect that
makes you feel cooler. So, when you aren’t in the room, you don’t need to
keep the fan on.
Bedroom windows:
The windows in your bedroom can impact how much energy you
consume, too. Inefficient windows can be your home’s biggest energy leak. Make
sure your windows aren’t letting warm air out – or cold air inside. Below you
can find a few tips for energy efficient windows:
- It’s
important to inspect your bedroom windows every year and re-caulk any gaps
that you find. If these gaps aren’t sealed properly, the warm air that
your AC is working so hard to create is able to flow right outside.
See SaveOnEnergy’s weatherstripping guide to learn more.
- Double-pane
windows are more energy efficient than single-pane windows. That second
pane creates more insulation and will help you keep your bedroom
temperature at a consistent level.
- If
you’re able to replace inefficient windows, look for the Energy Star
certification to make sure you’re buying the most energy efficient models.
You can also read NFRC ratings before choosing your new bedroom
windows.
- Your
choice in bedroom curtains can impact how much energy you use. Blackout
curtains keep the sun from waking you up, but they also keep the sun’s
warm rays from heating your room up while you sleep. In the summer, this
can help you keep your cooling costs lower. In the winter, be sure to open
those curtains so the sun can heat up your bedroom.
Electronics:
If you set your phone on your nightstand to charge every
night, you aren’t alone. It isn’t uncommon to have electronics set up in the
bedroom, whether it’s phones, TVs, or laptops. Here are a few ways to ensure
your electronics aren’t consuming too much energy:
- Be on
the lookout for energy vampires in your bedroom. These are electronics that consume
energy even when they aren’t being used. Key electricity vampires include
your cellphone charger, heated blanket, and humidifier. When these devices
aren’t being used, remember to unplug them.
- An
extension cord can make it easy to switch off several electronics at once
before you go to sleep each night.
- If you
enjoy watching TV before going to sleep, remember to set up the
television’s sleep mode. This way, if you fall asleep with your favorite
show still running, your TV will turn off automatically instead of playing
all night.
Interested in reading about how to save energy in other
rooms? See our previous installment below:
Caitlin Cosper is a writer within the
energy and power industry. Born in Georgia, she attended the University of
Georgia before earning her master’s in English at the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte.
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