It is important to us at Just Energy that our customers are getting the best value from their service with us. One of the best ways to understand your energy bill is to look at how you use energy in your home and opportunities for energy efficiency.
Reduce Your Bill by Reducing Your Usage
Did you know that most of your home's energy usage is from maintaining a comfortable temperature? Your air conditioning and heating system uses approximately 47% of your home’s energy. Temperature spikes or lows outside can cause the increased use of energy to cool or heat a home to the desired temperature inside. Typically, older homes are not as well insulated, which results in air leakage. Drafts and air leakage can significantly impact your bill when it causes your air conditioning or heating systems to constantly use energy to maintain your preferred temperature.
To increase your home's air conditioning and heating efficiency, we recommend:
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Add weather strips around your windows and doors; the average home can save about 10% of its yearly heating costs.
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Plant trees to provide shade that keeps sunlight out or as the leaves fall away to let heat inside.
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Replace air filters every 90 days. A clogged air filter makes your air conditioning system work harder to draw air through and ends up using more energy.
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Adjust your house's water heater to reduce the energy used. The default temperature is usually set to 140° F, which most homes never use. Try changing your water heaters' max temperature to 120° F, allowing you to save up to $400 on your heating expense a year.
Depending on the time of year, you can make specific changes to ensure energy efficiency in your home. It is essential to keep as much hot air in your homes in the winter and prevent cold air from the outside from getting in. We recommend:
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Set up your furniture to prevent any air-vents from being blocked, allowing heat to circulate.
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Adjust ceiling fans to spin clockwise to push hot air back down into the room.
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Open your curtains on sunny days to help naturally heat your home and close them at night, working as another layer for insulation.
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Set your heat to 65° F and bundle up with your winter clothing and a blanket.
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Cover your windows with a clear plastic film as added insulation.
In the summer, you should try to block out the sun as much as possible and reduce the use appliances that work to warm up your home. We also recommend:
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Close all blinds to reduce the heat that comes into your home by approximately 33%.
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Adjusting ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise can help cut your summer power bill by 47%.
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Close the doors around your house in rooms that are not being used to keep cold air where you need it most.
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During the night, open your windows to let the cool night air into your home.
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Use the stove as little as possible, so heat is not released into your home; instead, use an outside grill or mini oven.
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Set your thermostat to 78° F as every degree will increase your energy usage 6% to 8%
Other factors in the home may also affect the amount of energy used, such as the frequency and timing of home appliance use. It's estimated that the average American home washes approximately 300 loads of laundry each year, making up more than 6% of the average house energy usage. In many ways, smaller appliances can also add up to make a significant impact on your energy bill. We know that appliances, big or small, are an essential part of every home and want to help make sure yours are used in an energy-effective way. We recommend:
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Leave space in your refrigerator between the food and the wall so that air can circulate and keep your food fresher.
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Set your refrigerator to the manufactures’ temperature recommendation to avoid overuse.
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Let your leftovers fully cool before placing them in the fridge, as hot food warms up your refrigerator, making it work harder to maintain your desired temperature.
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Run your clothing and dishwasher at off-peak times and in cold water; off-peak times vary from place to place.
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Use a high spin cycle on your clothing to reduce the amount of water retained after washing to make your drying process faster.
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Turn off your gaming consoles, light bulbs and computer monitors when not in use.
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Always look for the Energy Star logo to ensure that the product meets energy-efficient regulations set by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.