Saving energy is a great way to reduce your bills, it could be as simple as making small changes in the household behavior. You could protect your environment and pay less when you do it right. Conserving energy improves the quality of life and increases the value of your home. It is an ideal investment idea for all.

Here are three simple ways to help you save energy:

1. Follow the rules

The rules were simple when we were in school. You would remember seeing, “turn off the lights when not in use”, as a common sign in most places. One of the most common myths about saving energy at households is that it would be expensive. It is not true. In fact, it does not incur any extra cost, you could find easy ways to conserve energy with helpful blogs. Making small changes to your every day could result in huge savings.

Here are a few easy to follow methods to save energy:

• Turn off appliances once you finish working with them.
• Limit your television time.
• Turn down the thermostat during warmer days.
• Always load the dishwasher and washing machine when they have a full load.

You could also consider doing the chores by hand at times to save energy. Try line-drying your clothes instead of using the dryer on a hot day. These small changes may seem like they do not account much, but when you consider them all, a lot of energy saved. You could use a home energy monitor to understand which appliance consumes the most energy.

2. Programmable thermostat and lightings

In most households, the heating and cooling cost nearly 50% of the utility bills. A programmable thermostat could help you reduce your bill. A smart thermostat automatically turns off or reduces the heating and cooling times when you are away or asleep. There are programmable appliances available in the market that detect movement to work like when you are not home, these appliances stop working. It helps you to save energy and pay less. There are movement detecting lights and air conditioners too. You could also get smart-power strips that shut off the power to electronic equipment when they are not in use. It also can be set to a time-frame after which they turn off.

3. Look out for energy efficient appliances

Another major contributor to your energy bill is your appliances. The water heater accounts a huge part of your energy bill. An energy efficient water heater reduces nearly 50% of the cost. Many companies have introduced energy efficient appliances like washing machine, refrigerators and air conditioners. On an average, 13% of the household’s energy consumption depends on the appliances. Avoid getting too many appliances at home and opt for conventional methods. Energy efficient machines could cost you more but their operational costs are nearly 9-25% lesser. On the long run, a good energy star labeled appliance could save you money.

Apart from these three important ways, you could also think about weatherizing your home. Sealing air leaks is a great way to reduce heating or cooling expenses. Another key factor is to insulate your home. Insulation retains the heat during winter and keeps the heat out of your home during summer. Depending on the region you live, you could differ the level of insulation. Whether your motivation for energy efficiency is environmental, economic or personal, you succeed!