Utilities are basic services your home needs to function properly and comfortably. These utilities typically include:
Electricity and gas – electricity is one of the most important utilities for your home since it’s used for lighting, heating, cooling, cooking, and powering various appliances and devices. Natural gas is another energy option for heating, cooking, and powering certain appliances.
Water and sewage – to get clean water for cooking, cleaning, drinking, and sanitation, you must set up water and sewage services with your city municipality.
Trash and recycling – if you want the city to pick up your trash and recycling weekly, you’ll usually have to pay a flat monthly collection fee.
Technology – internet, cable, and phone services can all be considered utilities.
Saving Money on Utilities: Electricity, gas, and water service providers generally charge usage-based rates (e.g., $0.14 per kWh). This means the less you use a utility, the less money you’ll have to pay, and vice versa. If you want to see a price drop on your utility bill, here are some strategies you can implement in your home:
Gas & Electric:
· Energy-Efficient Lighting: traditional incandescent bulbs consume a lot of energy and have a short lifespan. If you still have these in your home, swap them out for LED bulbs, which use significantly less electricity and last much longer.
· Unplug Electronics: many electronics (including computers, TVs, stereo systems) continue to consume power even when they’re turned off. To conserve energy, unplug their power units when not in use or take advantage of a power strip to disconnect multiple devices simultaneously.
· Smart Thermostat: consider a smart thermostat that helps regulate your home’s temperature automatically. For example, you can set it to lower the heating or cooling when you’re away or asleep, reducing unnecessary energy usage.
· Weatherstripping and Insulation: seal gaps around doors and windows for winter to prevent drafts and heat loss. For summer, hang thermal curtains to help absorb sunlight so it puts less strain on your air conditioning.
· Cover and Repair Windows: ensure windows are properly sealed and weatherized to help prevent heat from escaping and cold air from entering your home. Caulking small gaps, applying weatherstripping to movable parts, and using window attachments can help keep warm air inside.
· Check and Replace Central Heating Filters Regularly: dirty filters trap lint, pollen, dust, and more that can reduce airflow. This makes your system work harder, taking longer to heat your home, which can increase costs. Check your filter monthly and replace every three months regardless.
· Use Ceiling Fan to Keep Warm: while ceiling fans are thought to be a summer tool, they can also be used during the winter months to keep warm air circulating below the fan. Reverse the ceiling fan so it rotates clockwise at a low speed.
· Don’t Run Appliances Unless They’re Full: when considering using your dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer, wait until you have a full load.
· Adjust Your Refrigerator: check the settings on your refrigerator; a good rule of thumb is to keep your fridge set at about 35-38 degrees. Adjusting the settings like this will keep food fresh but will make sure your unit isn’t zapping extra energy by working overtime to keep everything too cold.
Water & Laundry Best Practices:
· Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving
· Limit your showers to five (5) minutes or less
· Use a broom instead of a hose (or power washing) to clean outdoor areas
· Address water leaks as soon as you notice them
· Wash and dry laundry with full loads
· Wash with cold water since hot water consumes more energy
· Increase the washer’s spin speed, as this extracts more water from your clothes and reduces drying time
· Clean the lint screen before every load to help improve drying efficiency
Learn more tips at www.orlandtownship.org/community-resources.