We all have the power to make a difference. Today I am going to share five ways that help save energy AND will save money on your energy bill.

Open a door or window

This summer, I know it can be tempting to run the AC instead of opening windows to let the breeze in. When you first wake up in the morning, instead of opening the blinds, make sure to close up the house. Then at night or when the sun goes down, that’s when it’s the perfect time to let the night breeze in.

Wash your clothes in cold water

When it comes to laundry, wash your clothes in cold water. This will lower energy costs because the water does not need to be heated. We also try to wait until we have a full load of clothes instead of washing a few pieces.

Change to a dimmer switch

When we first moved into our apartment, I was annoyed with our overhead lights. It seemed like they had two settings – sitting in the dark or staring into the sun.

But luckily my Step Dad is handy enough to add a dimmer switch to our living room lights. PLUS it saves energy!

Power your house with Alexa

We love our Echo Dot!

Even though we speak to her like grandparents by pausing to make sure she hears us…she is actually really useful around the home.

You can use Alexa to turn your lights on and off, adjust your thermostat, and other wifi-enabled products…all with your voice. It’s incredible.

Unplug

The easiest thing you can do right now to save money on your energy bills is to unplug devices when not in use.

I have an ugly habit of leaving my laptop plugged in, long after it’s charged. Now, when it’s fully charged, I unplug it!

To learn more ways about how you can save energy, check out Energy Upgrade California.