May 31, 2020
Amidst this global crisis, we’re all facing unexpected challenges. This is particularly true in economic terms, as we’re seeing record unemployment figures across the country. Furthermore, many people are now working remotely and spending a lot more time at home, which can lead to bigger energy costs than ever before.
With this in mind, we want to cover a few simple steps you can take to reduce your energy expenditure and cut utility costs each month. Small changes can make a big difference to your utility bills and save you a lot of money in the long run. Read on for some practical information about how you can save energy and, more importantly, save money.
#1. Save With Renewable Energy
With solar energy, you can start saving on your utility bills right away. A solar system can massively offset your electricity costs and, in some cases, even eliminate your bill entirely. Of course, given the current economic climate, we understand that people may not be keen to install solar panels on their property. This is where community solar comes in.
Community solar is a way to receive all the benefits of solar energy without the hassle of installing panels at your home or business. With a community solar subscription, you will receive bill credits on your utility bill each month, cutting the cost of electricity. The bill credit you receive is proportional to the energy generated by your subscribed portion of the community solar project, so you can adjust the subscription based on your unique energy needs.
YSG is offering flexible community solar subscriptions, with terms for no cost cancellation and easy transfer available for our customers. Get in touch today to learn more and we’ll find the ideal community solar subscription in your area.
#2. Do An Audit On Your Home Energy Efficiency
This is a quick and easy way to cut down on your energy usage right now.
Lightbulbs: Check the lightbulbs around your home to see if you are using LED bulbs. If so, great. If not, it’s time to make the switch to LED bulbs exclusively. LED bulbs outperform incandescent bulbs while also using less energy.
Power Strips: Did you know that if you leave a device plugged in it can still use energy? That’s right, the laptop/phone/tablet/TV that you leave plugged in all day could be costing you. Make sure you plug devices out when not in use or, better yet, invest in a smart power strip which shuts off the power supply to devices not in use.
Weatherize: Heating and cooling systems can really drive up your energy costs so it’s important to retain heat efficiently. Check your windows and doors for potential leaks so that your home temperature isn’t being affected by the weather outside. This quick fix doesn’t require an expert and you can find both instructions and materials for sealing up leaks online.
#3. Adjust Your Energy Usage Habits
This might seem like an obvious step but it’s worth thinking about—use less energy, save more money. There are a few key household appliances that eat up energy, and if you can use those items less frequently, it can make a big difference. We’re not even talking about drastic changes here, just some small considerations can go a long way.
Laundry: When you’re doing laundry, make sure it’s a full load. This is the most efficient approach and will minimize the energy wasted by doing half loads on a more frequent basis.
Fridge: We’ve all opened the fridge door and stood there hoping for inspiration to strike, but this can eat up energy. Try to only open the fridge when you know what you’re taking out so you can minimize energy consumption.
Thermostat: Managing the temperature in your home can really use up a lot of energy. Whether it’s heating the place up or cooling it down, you might be able to to tweak things by a few degrees and not really notice a huge difference. This small change of a couple of degrees can add up to big savings on your utility bills.
If you have your own tips on how to make your home more energy efficient, we’d love to hear them. Send YSG a message on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and maybe we’ll include your tip in a future blog post.
To start saving with solar and cut your utility costs each month, contact YSG Solar today. Whether it’s commercial, residential, or community, YSG will find the ideal solar project for your needs. Send us an email, or call at 212.389.9215 to get started.
YSG Solar is a project development vehicle responsible for commoditizing energy infrastructure projects. We work with long-term owners and operators to provide clean energy assets with stable, predictable cash flows. YSG's market focus is distributed generation and utility-scale projects located within North America.
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