The cost of energy is expensive, both in monetary and environmental terms. On average, Americans spend nearly $2,000 a year on energy bills, half of which can be attributed to heating and cooling expenses.
WalletHub's recent study highlights the change many states are making to increase their overall efficiency, in terms of home energy and car consumption. These rankings were determined by calculating the ratio between total residential energy consumption and annual average temperature, as well as dividing annual vehicle miles driven by the gallons of gasoline consumed.
The top 10 states making changes include:
- New York
- Vermont
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Utah
- Rhode Island
- Colorado
- California
- Connecticut
- Nevada.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, of the 115 million residences in America today, 22.5 percent of the country's energy is consumed. In order to reduce your own carbon footprint, as well as lessen monthly bills, keep the following tips in mind:
- Change heating filters: By changing these filters each month, in addition to using natural light for heat and covering bare floors, homeowners can increase the warmth in their home without increasing their monthly payments.
- Install a programmable thermostat: Use a thermostat that tracks heating and cooling in the home and room use. If no one is home, consider lowering the heat or turning off the cooling system until people return.
- Use appliances sparingly: No, this doesn't mean to stop doing laundry or not use your dishwasher. In terms of these appliances, start them only when full. Running a dishwasher when it's half full or washing a small amount of clothes is a waste of energy.
To learn more about energy efficiency, or to schedule an energy audit in your home, contact an Alban inspector today or visit our website.