Reducing Energy Costs While on Vacation

If you’re planning on getting out of the cold this winter, (perhaps to a Caribbean paradise?), then one of the things you need to be thinking about before leaving is how to protect your home from racking up energy costs while you’re away. Read below for our favorite tips on saving energy while you’re away.

• Plug your electronics into an advanced power strip and then shut the power strip off – this will help prevent your electronics from draining unneeded power. If a power strip doesn’t make sense for some things, say a coffee maker or rechargeable toothbrush, make sure to unplug them.
• Turn your water heater to vacation mode if it has one, or if that’s not an option, set it to the lowest temperature while you’re away (at least 50 degrees to avoid frozen pipes).
• If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to a lower temperature for the duration of your trip, and back to normal one day before you arrive home. If you do not have a programmable thermostat, manually lower the temperature before you leave and turn it up upon your return. To keep pipes from freezing while you’re away, the thermostat should be set to around 50 degrees in the winter.
• If you have a pool or spa, lower the temperature setting while these aren’t in use.
• Turn off fans or any other sort of climate control in the house that isn’t centralized.
• Double check that all the lights are turned off before you leave your house – having just one light on can cost quite a bit of money.
  • If you want to give the appearance that you’re still at home, consider using light timers that turn on and off at specific times. These are available at hardware stores.
  • Insulate doors and windows to help seal in heat while your thermostat is turned down. This will also help save energy when you’re home.
  • In the colder months, lowering the blinds and curtains can help against cold drafts that will suck more heat out of your house.
  • Block your chimney – this can also help with keeping your heat contained, making your home a bit warmer while you’re away.

Following these easy steps can make a huge difference in securing your home against energy loss and unnecessary energy costs while you’re away enjoying the warmer weather.

Check out our other posts for more ideas on how to save on energy this year.