Good Utility Usage Habits

4 Ways To Reduce Your Electricity Usage

“On” vs. “Auto”

• “Auto” on your thermostat means the AC/fans will adjust according to the existing temperature in the room, whereas “on” keeps the fans running all day. Your air conditioner normally cycles off 30 percent of the time. In this case, turning the fan switch to “on” will make the fan run over 200 extra hours a month. For a standard AC unit, that would cost you about $8 more each month. Not to mention – a fan that runs all the time wears out a lot faster.

When in doubt, fan it out.

• A central air unit (the most common type of AC) runs on about 3 kilowatts and costs about 36 cents per hour to run. But a good fan? On average, that costs only 30 watts to run, adding up to only 1 cent every 3 hours. All of this said, you could potentially save over $128 per month by using a ceiling fan in the bedroom and weening off the AC.

Say “bon voyage” to wasted electricity!

• Knowing what to set your thermostat to when leaving for a trip can be tricky. Different communities have different minimum and maximum temperature requirements, so check with your property before you make drastic changes to your thermostat. Other than that, it is important to always consider: Where do I live and what time of the year is it? Based on this information, you can set your thermostat as close to the outside temperature as your community’s boundaries allow in order to save money.

Unplug electronics

• I know, I know. It should go without saying. I seem to forget about phone chargers and camera battery chargers, though. Because of this, they stay plugged in, sucking change from our bank account. By using power strips, I could shut off electricity to these devices all at once. Consumer Reports also found that you can save $25 to $75 each year just by putting your computer on standby.

3 Ways to Reduce Your Water Usage

Is your toilet running? Well, then you’d better go catch it!

• Since the leak is a continual flow of water, you can actually end up losing a gallon every 30 seconds which adds up to hundreds of dollars per year. Now THAT’s money down the drain!
  • Let your property manager know if you hear your toilet running for longer than 30 seconds. That way, the toilet can be repaired, and you’re spared those crazy water bills.

Bathe in the relief of a low water bill - not in a full bathtub.

• On average, most people spend 5-10 minutes in each shower which adds up to about 10-20 gallons of water. Compare this to a bath, which normally requires 20-50 gallons (depending on the size of the tub), and it’s easy to see that showering saves you a substantial amount of water and cash.

The small stuff counts, too.

• A running faucet uses 1.5 gallons of water per minute. This means that if you brush your teeth for the recommended two minutes, you’re wasting 3 gallons of water in a single brush. Trust us, you won’t be sorry for turning that sink faucet off when you’re doing your morning and nightly routine.

How can I keep utility costs low when spending more time at home?

1. Turn off all lights when not in use. 

Did you know that using one single lightbulb can cost you up to $20 per year if burned consistently? Take a look around your home and notice how many lights are on at one given time. Ask yourself which lights are serving a purpose, and which are not. If you decide a light doesn’t need to be on, switch it off to conserve energy. You can even opt to open windows and blinds for natural light at no cost to you! 

2. Wait to wash dishes till you have a full load.

The average dishwasher uses approximately 6 gallons of water per cycle, meaning each wash costs about 20 cents. This can add up quickly (especially in a quarantine), so be smart about your next wash! 

3. Ask yourself: Do I really need to turn up the heat/AC?

We all know it’s important to be comfortable in your home but being too comfortable all day long can cost you a lot more than anticipated. Opt to pile on the blankets or open a window.