Increasing prices for commodities and services are affecting everyone around the world. The annual average inflation rate skyrocketed in 2021 and now hovers around 8% for the 12 months ended May 2022; the largest annual increase since December 1981. Focusing on energy efficiency now can help you have a little extra cash to purchase other commodities. FOCUS ON ENERGY® can help you save money long-term when you install energy-efficient products and follow our energy-saving advice.
Start with LED Lighting
LED lighting is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to save money on your utility bill: replace your incandescent light bulbs with LED bulbs. On average, you can save almost $150 a year on your electric bills. To help you get started, Focus on Energy provides FREE energy-saving product packs to Wisconsin residents that include LED bulbs, and the Focus on Energy Online Marketplace offers significant discounts on LED lighting.
Insulating Exposed Pipes and Insulating Your Attic
Insulating pipes can save energy and water. For hot water pipes, it keeps heat in the pipe instead of heating up the space around it. Keeping the water hot means less water wasted waiting for hot water at the faucet or showerhead. Focus on Energy has directions on how to insulate your hot water pipes. Insulating and air sealing can save around $150 per year. Insulating the first six feet of cold-water pipe going into the water heater helps further prevent energy loss.
If you want to save even more with insulation, head to your attic. With proper insulation and air sealing, utility customers could save around $150 per year on their energy bills. Older, drafty homes can often see even greater savings.
Focus on Energy Trade Ally contractors offer home energy assessments that can set you on the right path to improve insulation and seal the air leaks in your home. Learn about how an energy assessment works and which Focus on Energy rebates may be available to help offset improvement costs.
Heating, Cooling, and Annual Equipment Maintenance
If your furnace is more than 15 years old or your home is not comfortable enough temperature-wise, you may want to begin a search for a more reliable and efficient product to heat and cool your home. Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems can cut energy use by 10% to 30%. Focus on Energy offers rebates of $50 to $1,000 on new equipment.
A high efficiency furnace can average $85 per year in savings. Add on a smart thermostat to closely manage energy waste averages another $50 per year saved. Receive an instant discount on a smart thermostat at the Focus on Energy Online Marketplace.
Smart thermostats can also remind you to change your furnace filters. Have you changed yours recently? How about clearing out the vents? And do not forget annual maintenance on the furnace and A/C. A furnace tune-up can save close to $12 per year and A/C tune-up a little more than $10 per year.
Advanced Power Strips, High Efficiency Showerheads, and Other Energy-Saving Ideas
Electronics and many appliances can continue drawing power even when they are turned off. This is where an advanced power strip can come in handy and save you up to $10 per year. These power strips turn off the power from the supply to the device to stop energy waste.
Do you have household members who take long showers? A high efficiency showerhead can save $15 to $25 per year and is available for FREE with an energy-saving product pack or for purchase at a discount through the Online Marketplace.
Do you have a washing machine in your home? If you have an electric water heater, you can save almost $85 per year when washing with cold water. If you have a natural gas water heater, this change can save about $25 per year.
The helpful chart below has all the numbers you need and options available to help you control your energy costs.
*Savings are estimates. Source: 2022 Focus on Energy Technical Reference Manual