How to Save Energy While You’re on Vacation

July 19, 2019

Your summer vacation plans are supposed to be the most relaxing part of the season. But it can be tough to unwind if you know you’ll come home to a massive electricity bill. Never fear, your friends at Buzz Electrical are here!

We’ve got five tips for how to save energy while you’re on vacation.

1. Turn off all lights and fans.

This might seem obvious, but you should double check that all lights and ceilings fans are switched off while you head out of town. If you like to leave a light on for security purposes, set it to a timer so that it only uses electricity during certain hours of the day.

2. Unplug all electronics.

Did you know that your electronics use energy any time they are plugged in, even if they are turned off? Unplug smaller tech like TVs, DVD players, computers, gaming consoles, and lamps. Without these devices draining your energy needlessly, you can temporarily lower your electric bill big time.

3. Lower your thermostat setting.

Since there won’t be anyone home to enjoy your cool air, turn down the temperature on your thermostat. Keeping the AC running helps to regulate humidity and prevent mold growth while you’re gone. But setting the temperature even just four degrees higher than normal will drastically reduce your energy costs.

If you have a programmable thermostat, check to see if it has a “vacation mode” setting. This will ensure the ideal energy saving settings for your home’s size and moisture levels.

4. Close your curtains or blinds.

To help out your hard-working AC and reduce the heat inside your home, close the curtains or blinds on every window in your house. This prevents exposure to direct sunlight, which keeps the house cooler. The cooler your house is naturally, the less work your AC has to do to maintain the temperature.

As an added bonus, closing your curtains is a good idea for security reasons. Don’t let any potential intruders know that your house is empty!

5. Turn off your hot water heater.

Turn off the circuit breaker to your water heater so that it won’t heat up your reserves unnecessarily. When you get back from vacation, make sur to run your hot water tap for a little while before you turn the power back on. If you accidentally heat up your hot water heater while it is empty, you can cause serious damage to it.

If turning off the power to your hot water heater completely makes you nervous, just lower the temperature on the tank instead. Either way you will prevent energy waste.

Still wondering how to save energy while you’re on vacation?

If you are still looking for more energy saving tips, check out these smart home products or these benefits of LED light bulbs.

If you are interested in making your electrical system more energy efficient, our team at Buzz Electrical can help! Give us a call today.

Family owned and operated Buzz Electrical is Fayetteville’s leading electrical company! If you need any electrical upgrades or repairs in your Arkansas home, we are here to help. Give us a call at (479) 267-2899.