Tag: energy saving tips

5 Summer Energy Saving Tips

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summer energy saving tips

During summer season, the hot temperatures can lead to an increase in electricity usage as you and your family try to stay cool. If you want to prevent a major spike in your energy bill, check out these summer energy saving tips by the pros at Roman Electric. This way, you can lower your electricity bill without sacrificing comfort!

1. Try This Trick with Your Thermostat

According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% on cooling per year by turning up your thermostat 7-10 degrees higher for 8 hours a day. Try this trick on your thermostat and see if you notice on a difference on next month’s energy bill! Keep in mind, that this technique is best tried out using programmable thermostats because they allow daily and weekly temperature scheduling.

2. Switch to LEDs

Another way to save up on your electricity bill during any time of the year is to switch your lights to LEDs. These light bulbs are the most energy-efficient on the market—they use 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and can last 25 times longer. Plus, they don’t radiate heat, making them safer to use and touch.

3. Seal Up Your Home

Having proper insulation and air sealing in your home can save you 20% on your heating and cooling costs and 10% on overall energy costs. That’s why it’s important you inspect your home for any insulation gaps or air leaks. While insulation inspections should be handled by a professional, you can easily inspect for air leaks on your own. Make sure you look around your doors and windows as these are the most common air leak spots. If you notice the caulking or weatherstripping is wearing out, make sure to re-caulk any cracks and gaps and get new weatherstripping material from your nearest home improvement store.

4. Change Your Air Filter

Changing your air filter not only improves your air conditioner’s performance but also reduces its energy consumption by 5 to 15%. Changing your filter only takes a few minutes but can make a world of difference. Ideally, you should change it once every three months.

5. Unplug

Some appliances when left plugged in, even if they are not use, can use energy. This can unnecessarily add to your energy bill. So, make sure you unplug your coffee maker, hair dryer or laptop charger after you are done using them—this can save you up to $100 a year!

Want More Energy Saving Tips? Get in Touch with The Pros at Roman Electric!

Whether you want more energy saving tips for the summer, or need plumbing, electric or HVAC services, the pros at Roman Electric are here to help. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us on our website! Our team of experts would be more than happy to assist you and provide the high-quality service that you need.

4 Ways to Save Energy While Away on Spring Break

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Your Spring Break plans might have been delayed because of the spread of COVID-19 globally. However, once the curve flattens and social distancing orders relax a little, we know you’ll be itching to take a vacation. That’s why the pros at Roman Electric have prepared a helpful list of ways to save energy while away on Spring Break or any vacation. This way, you’ll maintain energy-efficiency even when you’re not at home.

1. Turn Up Your Thermostat

According to the Department of Energy, you can save up to 10% per year on heating and cooling by turning back your thermostat 7-10 degrees from your normal setting for 8 hours a day. That sounds a little more complicated than it needs to, but it’s easy to put into effect. You can easily do this if you happen to have a programmable thermostat, as these types of thermostats have excellent scheduling features. You can also try out this energy-saving method with a smart thermostat, which not only allows scheduling temperature settings, but also wi-fi connectivity and remote temperature control.

In short, if you simply turn up your thermostat a few degrees while you’re away on vacation, you can save a significant amount on your energy bill.

2. Inspect Leaks

You can’t be energy-efficient if you don’t attempt to conserve water as well. You can save water by looking for and fixing leaks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year. This number adds up, so make sure that you fix your house leaks before you go on vacation. The most common locations for leaks are toilets, faucets, dishwashers and showerheads—generally, leaks in these areas are a nuisance but also easily fixable.

3. Unplug Before You Go

Make sure you unplug all your devices and appliances before you leave, as you don’t want “energy vampires” sucking away the savings on your energy bill. “Energy vampires” is an interesting term coined for appliances and devices that continue to drain away energy while they are plugged in, even when they are not being used. Make sure to vanquish these energy vampires before you go on to enjoy your vacation.

4. Seal Up Your Home

Air leaks can lead to significant energy losses and other issues such as your AC short cycling and bad indoor air quality. Luckily, fixing and preventing these air leaks is easy. First, make sure the weatherstripping in your windows and doors is up to date. If the stripping is old and worn out, you might need to replace it. You can find various weatherstripping materials like vinyl, foam and even metal at your nearest home improvement store. Next, make sure there are no air leaks in other, smaller areas such as electrical outlets. This might be surprising, but air leaks can be found behind electrical outlets and might be causing energy loss. To fix this issue, you can try adding foam gaskets or aerosol foam behind these outlets.

Want more tips on saving energy while you’re away on vacation? Contact the pros at Roman Electric! Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us online!

Start the New Year Off with Some Energy-Saving Tips!

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new year energy saving tips

The new year is a great time to start making changes to your routine. One way you can make changes to your lifestyle is by finding ways to save energy around your home. By adding energy saving habits to your day-to-day you can decrease your utility bill and become an energy-conscious homeowner. To help you out, the pros at Roman Electric have come up with some effective energy-saving tips.

1. Change Bulbs to LEDs

One of ways you can start saving energy is by changing all your light bulbs from incandescent bulbs to LEDs. LED bulbs can last up to 25 times longer and use up to 75 % less energy. These bulbs are incredibly versatile and are also safe to use since they don’t radiate heat.

2. Change Your Filter

By changing your HVAC unit’s air filter consistently, you can reduce energy consumption between 5 and 15 %. It is ideal to change your air filter once every three months. Replacing your dirty filter with a new one will not only save you money and energy – but it is good for your unit. It prevents issues such as frozen evaporator coils, unhealthy indoor air quality and inconsistent air flow. If you haven’t changed your air filter recently, there is not time like the new year!

3. Seal Up Your Home

If you have any gaps in your insulation or any cracks around your ducts, windows or exterior doors, it’s time to tackle them in 2020. To prevent gaps in your windows and doors, use weatherstripping and caulking. To prevent duct leaks, have your ductwork inspected by professional HVAC technicians. In addition, have your home’s insulation inspected (especially your attic) to ensure you have enough insulation. Air leaks can force your unit to work overtime, ultimately wasting energy.

4. Use Fans in Warmer Months

This energy-saving tip is specific to warmer months. To save up on your HVAC unit’s energy use, increase the temperature on your thermostat by a few degrees and use your fans. While fans don’t exactly cool rooms, they create a wind-chill effect, keeping you or any of the occupants in the room cool and comfortable. Plus, making this change in your thermostat can save energy.

5. Consider Outdoor Solar Lights

If you use outdoor lights, consider going solar with them. Solar pathway lights are very common and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They require no wires or cables and are very easy to install. Going solar is also an excellent way to save money on your utility bill.

Save Energy in 2020 with Roman Electric!

We hope this list of new year energy-saving tips has been helpful. If you want to learn more about how you can reduce your energy consumption and save up a little on your utility bill, get in touch with the pros at Roman Electric. Call us today at 414-369-3798 or schedule a service with us on our website!

12 Energy Saving Tips to Go Green (St. Patrick’s Day)

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Want to avoid getting pinched while also saving money on the utility bill this St. Patrick’s Day? Go green with your electrical system! With Milwaukee weather still experiencing freezing temperatures, enough of our energy usage already goes into heating, so why not use some methods to cut down on energy and go green? From the electrical experts at Roman Electric, here are 12 energy saving tips for your home!

Manage Your Lighting Usage – Turn off lights in empty rooms, and before you go to bed. Additionally, opt for using lamps or candles to light rooms when possible. Clean your lights regularly to avoid dirt obstruction, as well as dusting off fixtures when possible.

Utilize Dishwasher Instead of Handwashing –  Believe it or not, handwashing dishes wastes more water than running the dishwasher, often as much as six times more gallons used. Maximize energy efficiency by washing your dishes in large loads in the dishwasher, but be careful not to overfill it, as this can prevent dishes from becoming clean.

Wash Clothes in Cold Water – According to Energy Star, 90% of energy from washing machines comes from warming water. Use cold water to wash your clothes instead, and wash in full amounts to get the most out of each cycle. Cold water can also clean more fragile clothing, meaning you can better combine loads without the worry of damage or loss of color.

Plan Your Cooking Accordingly – Defrost meat by placing it in the fridge instead of using the microwave and lay out all your ingredients when cooking to avoid constantly opening the fridge. Utilize pressure cookers, electric cookers, and microwaves instead of the oven for suitable foods to avoid wasting energy.

Line-Dry Clothes When Possible –  Instead of using the dryer for every load, hang dry suitable clothing to conserve energy and possibly avoid wrinkles or shrinkage.

Choose Showers Over a Bath – Showers use about 2 gallons of water per minute, while filling a bathtub could require higher than 100 gallons depending on the tub. Always choose a shower over a bath as much as possible and limit your showers to below 10 minutes to further save water.

Set Your Ceiling Fans to Reverse – Instead of relying on your heating for warmth, switch your ceiling fans to reverse rotation to keep the comfort in your home. Reversing ceiling fans causes them to draw out cold air instead of distributing it and can be turned on without any preparation.

Replace Your HVAC Filters Regularly – Every 2-3 months, replace your HVAC filters to avoid build-ups or clogs of dust preventing proper air circulation. The need for replacement may come sooner for homes with larger families or pets.

Seal Doors and Windows – Avoid conditioned air leaving your home by placing weather stripping around your doors and windows. Insulated window curtains and door stoppers are also available to further prevent air leakage.

Unplug Unused Appliances – Leaving appliances left in a socket will cause what’s known as “phantom power”, which is when turned-off appliances still draw power. Unplug all appliances after use or utilize a power strip to hold appliances and easily turn off power.

Invest in Energy Star Appliances – Energy Star certified appliances are guaranteed to cut down on energy usage compared to traditional variants. They are available for almost any electrical item in your home and can easily maximize energy efficiency.

Install a Programmable Thermostat – Your HVAC system accounts for almost half of your home’s energy usage, meaning maximizing its energy efficiency is a must. Programmable thermostats provide the means to save energy by scheduling temperatures for each day of the week. This will stop your heater from wasting energy throughout the night, as well as during the work day.

This St. Patrick’s Day, go green with Roman Electric’s 12 energy saving tips! If you would like to cut down on energy usage with a programmable thermostat, let Roman Electric be your trusted electrician! Our extensive electrical services guarantee we can handle any thermostat installation for your Milwaukee home, as well as any other electrical service you require. Give us a call at 414-369-3798 to schedule an appointment and avoid getting pinched this St. Patrick’s Day!