Are your lighting and heating bills killing your paycheck? If 10,000 of us cut our lighting bills by 10%, we’ll save a collective $131,604 per year. It could be worth speaking to an electrician (like saltle.com/electrical-services-austin-tx/electrical-troubleshooting/, for instance) to check your system to ensure all is working as it should to help save money. Want the keys to saving on your energy bill? Soak up some rays – inside. Daylight saving time ended Nov. 1, and we won’t have it back for a while, so consider daylighting your home (aka maximizing natural light) for a brighter outlook now.
The Benefits:
- No messing with your biorhythms – just like jet lag, a lack of light can make you feel outta sync with the rest of the world, even depressed.
- Artificial lighting adds up to 11% of your home’s electricity use; lower your energy intake by letting in more natural light.
- The less artificial light you pay for, the more money you have for that trip to Miami Beach.
Try This:
- Open your curtains and shades during sunny hours, then close them at night for better heat insulation. You could also opt for window films to be installed on your windows to prevent your home from heating up and also, saving on your energy bills. Expert services for Residential Window Film Installation in Ashburn, VA could be sought after if you are inclined towards tinting your windows.
- Conservatories can be wonderful ways to bring the light in. If you have one, make sure that it’s not letting in any unwelcome cold air; should you spot a problem, you may need to arrange for a conservatory door repair to solve that particular issue.
- Making upgrades to your place? North- and south-facing windows are your best daylighting bet, since they let in lots of even, natural light. East- and west-facing windows provide more daylight mornings and evenings, but cause more glare and don’t help with temperature regulation during the hot and cold months.Skylights and solar tubes are great too. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you research the pros and cons of each style and material before buying new windows to ensure you know exactly what you want.
- Daylighting Collaborative – go deeper to find out how windows can lower your lighting bills.
- Google SketchUp – Google’s cool new design tool helps amateur architects (as well as pros) draft and figure out the best placement of your windows, based on where the sun actually shines – and it’s free.
Thank you to (now-defunct )Ideal Bite for this wonderful tip!