How to Lower Energy Consumption in Your Home

When it comes to the most important social topics affecting our society, energy conservation is at the top of the list. The fact is that as a homeowner you have the ability to make small changes that can add up to make a big difference in the amount of overall energy usage. Reducing your energy use in your home can be done easily by focusing on your water heater. There are numerous simple ways that you can reduce the amount of energy your water heater consumes.

Here are a few simple steps that you can follow to decrease the energy usage of your water heater:

Turn Down the Thermostat

Simply dialing down the thermostat on your water heater has the ability to make a huge difference. Most water heaters are set at 140 degrees, but the fact is that your water heater can actually be set at about 20 degrees lower. This will still offer your home hot water that is comfortable and ideal. When you lower the temperature of your water heater you also lower the amount of energy that it uses. It is possible to save almost $60.00 every year by turning down the thermostat on your water heater.

Reduce Water Flow

If you simply make the effort to reduce the water flow of your facets and showers by 2.5 gallons per minute, you have the ability to cut down on your energy consumption by a large amount. This can be done by using an aerator to add air into the flow of water that allows you to keep the same temperature and water pressure without the same amount of actual water usage. Making this minor change will help you to reduce your water bills by almost half and this investment in your shower heads and faucets will pay off over time.

Look at the Exterior of Your Water Heater

It is a good idea to also take a look at the exterior of your water heater. Touch your water heater lightly to see if your water heater is hot to the touch. If your water heater is hot to the touch, you might have heat escaping through the exterior, which leads to your water heater having to continually reheat water as it cools. Investing in water heater insulation allows you to get rid of this problem and cut down on your energy consumption as a result.