There are a lot of different rate plans out there that can help you save more by providing you with the cheapest gas and electricity rates. No matter whether you run a farm, small start-up business, large corporate chain, or even just your own residence, there are plans that are geared towards your specific consumption needs, and those plans will allow you to get the most out of your gas and electricity rate plan—and save the most money in the process.
However, when it comes right down it, the best way to save on the cost of gas and electricity consumption doesn’t start with your rate plan; it starts with your meter. If you want to save more, you need to consume less. It’s a basic principle, and simple fixes, like installing energy efficient and insulated windows and doors and the right kind of thermostat, can have a significant impact on your gas and electricity bill.
But a window is the same as any other window, right?
Wrong. Your current windows may be your number one culprit when it comes to the struggle to get the cheapest gas and electricity for your home or business. Go take a look at your window right now. How does it open? Does it leave visible gaps or spaces when it’s closed? Can you feel a draft coming in? That draft isn’t just bringing cold air into your home; it’s also letting warm air out in the wintertime, and that means you are wasting a lot of energy—and your home is losing a lot of efficiency in the process.
The same goes in the summer. Your air conditioner will have to work extra hard to make up for the cool air that is being lost and the warm, humid air that is coming in through those drafty windows. It’s expensive enough consuming the energy it takes to heat or cool your home; you really don’t need to be attempting to heat or cool the outside, too (trust me; the environment won’t thank you for it).
How can you resolve the issue? There are simple temporary fixes, like plastic window treatments that can help seal off the drafts in the summer or winter, but the best way to resolve the issue is to improve the efficiency (and overall value) of your home or business by replacing your current windows with insulated windows.
Are you closing your door on cheap gas and electricity?
Much the same as windows, the efficiency of your doors can have a significant impact on your ability to get cheap gas and electricity for your home or business. Doors can be just as drafty as windows, and planning to buffer some of the heat loss that can occur through your doors can be buffered using efficient insulated doors—and by planning entranceways that provide an exterior and interior door to help prevent those blasts of cold air from coming into your home every time the door is opened in the wintertime (or those blasts of warm, un-air conditioned air in the summertime).
Are you using your thermostat?
You can now get smart thermostats for your home that will make it easier for you to automatically program your home to conserve energy, making it much easier for you to reap the benefits of cheap gas and electricity, but you need to use your smart thermostat properly to experience the benefits. For that matter, making use of a regular thermostat can help you save energy as well. Simply turn your heat down (or adjust the air conditioning accordingly) when you are leaving the house for work. You’ll be surprised at the savings you can create.
