Fun Fact: January 10 is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day! While it might sound a little less exciting than Christmas or New Year’s Eve, this holiday can be a great turning point for saving money in the new year.

At The Happy Outlet, we love to help our customers save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprints. Here is our guide on how to save energy and money in 2019.

1. Remember to turn off your lights.

Turning off the lights might seem like an obvious way to save energy. But it can be easy to forget about closets or bathrooms as you rush out the door. Check the whole house for forgotten lights before you leave and your pocketbook will thank you later.

2. Remember to unplug your electronics.

Much like leaving lights on around the house, it can be easy to forget about electronics laying around. Phone chargers, computers, and other electronics that are plugged in have energy circulating through them even when they are powered off.

To help minimize your consumption of electricity in devices you aren’t even using, try plugging them in to a power strip. This way you can switch the power strip off or unplug it from the wall instead of having to hunt down stray electronics all over the house.

3. Use ceiling fans for temperature control.

Ceiling fans can help adjust your temperature year-round. Obviously they are an excellent source of cool air during the hot summer months. But did you know they can be useful during the winter, too?

Rotate the blades on your ceiling fans counter clockwise in the winter time. This will push warm air that rises up to your ceiling down into the room. Ceiling fans use a lot less energy than it takes to power your HVAC system.

4. Wash your clothes in cold water.

Not only does washing your clothes in cold water help protect the colors from bleeding, it also saves you money on your utilities. Generating heat forces your washing machine to use up extra energy that isn’t really necessary. Try washing your clothes in cold water and hanging up some of them to try to maximize efficiency (and prevent shrinking).

5. Switch to LED light bulbs.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that residential LED light bulbs use at least 75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs. They are also more durable and last up to 25 times longer. Widespread use of LEDs could save massive amounts of energy and money across the United States.

Even though the price tag for LEDs is higher, they will save you money in the long term. Since they last longer, you will see utility savings for years to come.

6. Invest in Energy Star appliances.

One of the best ways to reduce your energy consumption is to buy Energy Star appliances. These appliances from a wide variety of different manufacturers have been reviewed by a third-party team of experts at Energy Star and deemed the industry leaders in energy efficiency.

If you have any major appliances to replace in 2019, consider investing in Energy Star. They are often more expensive than competitors initially, but they can cut your energy costs considerably over the years.

We hope this guide helps you discover how to save energy and money in 2019.

When you look back at the end of a calendar year, it feels great to know you have saved money and helped the environment at the same time. We hope this guide inspires you to make energy saving one of your new year’s resolutions for 2019.

If you need any electrical repairs, replacements, or upgrades in your Carson City home, contact The Happy Outlet! Give us a call at 833-2B-HAPPY to schedule an appointment and get started.