As property managers, we often have tenants ask what they can do to lower the energy footprint of their property to reduce the monthly energy costs. According to Energy.gov, the average U.S. household spends $2200 per year on household energy costs. Since cooler weather is starting to settle into Northern Colorado, I thought I would share tips to start saving energy today.
- Many people fail to take advantage of nature’s built-in heater, the sun. Be sure to open your curtains on sunny days, especially those curtains on your south-facing windows. That will allow your home to get some natural heat from the sun. Be sure to close the curtains at night since the chill of the windows can reduce your household temperature.
- Adjust your thermostat at night. Adding an extra blanket on the bed and reducing your thermostat 10 degrees can save you over 10% of your overall household cost per year. That is savings of over $220 per year for the average household. The furnace is the major energy consumer during colder months so find a thermostat setting that is low enough to save money but still allows you to be comfortable.
- Look for unwanted drafts in your home. These unwanted airflows cause the temperature of your home to go down. These drafts are typically found around door and windows so check them. Some other areas that can produce drafts but many people do not know are pipes that lead to the exterior, chimneys, and interior recessed lighting.
- Let’s turn to the second largest energy consumer in the home, the water heater. The water heater can consume up to 25% of your energy cost during cold months. So, be sure your water heater is not heating water over 120 degrees. Not only will you reduce your water heater energy costs but you will also prevent members of the family from scalding themselves.
We hope these tips help you reduce your energy costs over the next several months. If you an investment owner and need property management services, we would be honored to partner with you. We serve all of Northern Colorado, including Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Johnstown, Greeley, Timnath, Wellington and the rest of the surrounding area.