For instance, in the south, where humidity and heat are both high most of the year, homeowners tend to run their A/C constantly. When they don’t, the temperature inside their homes can become unbearable. Not only is this bad for energy consumption, it’s terrible for the environment. Higher energy consumption means more fossil fuels are needed, and that translates to an increase in greenhouse gases. That’s why everyone should do their part to reduce their energy footprint as much as possible. To save money on heating and cooling, you can do basic maintenance on AC units, swap out thermostats for more efficient ones, and even seal up ducts. Most of that stuff requires you to get in touch with a professional, however. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could reduce your energy footprint on your own, without outside help? You might know that your smartphone can make you more productive, but did you know there are apps and devices that can help you save money? That’s right, you can use your phone to save money on your electricity bill.
Kill-Ur-Watts
In 2012, the Department of Energy held a contest that tasked developers with creating “apps for energy,” which would essentially help people reduce energy consumption. During the event, KeyLogic Systems Inc. came up with the app Kill-Ur-Watts. It is a free tool that allows you to track how much energy you use — after entering consumption data on your own — via a relative score. You can then take the score and apply it to reduce your energy footprint. All information entered into the app is presented visually through charts, graphs and indicators. You can even square off with friends to see who gets the better score. It’s a great way to get motivated and save some money. Get it: Kill-Ur-Watts on iTunes | Free
Energy Cost Calculator
Want to quickly track how much energy you’re using in your home and find out the estimated cost? You can do all that with the Energy Cost Calculator app. Just take a look at the power meter on the outside of your home and use the numbers you gather to estimate a few stats. You must type in your estimated power consumption per hour, the hours of energy you use each day, and the cost per watt or kilowatt, which you can find on your power bill. The calculator will then tell you how much energy you’re using and roughly how much that costs. The U.S. Energy Information Administration calculated the 2015 residential average was at about $114 per month. You can compare your bill to the average to see just how high your consumption ratings are. Get it: Energy Cost Calculator on iTunes | Free
Energy CURB
Energy trackers and power calculators are great, but if you don’t know how to cut down on the amount of energy you’re using, they won’t make a lick of difference. That’s the point of Energy CURB, which offers you helpful advice for reducing your energy consumption. This app could be the Cadillac of energy apps. If you’re looking for something that you can apply to your home and integrate everywhere, then CURB will work for you. It will help you allocate a specific budget and notify you if you’re close to the limit — and you can track trends over time. You can also integrate with other smart or green energy sources, such as your electric car and solar panels. When you make the right moves, you could save up to 20 percent on your home’s heating and cooling costs. The tips are valuable and will certainly help you save some money. Get it: Energy CURB on iTunes | ~$300
Nest Learning Thermostat and App
The Nest learning thermostat is a “smart” home device, or more specifically a smart thermostat to replace your “dumb” one. It comes with a free companion app for Android and iOS. While the Nest can interface with a variety of smart home products, increasing its practicality, the true allure is the cost savings it can offer. The thermostat works autonomously to help reduce energy usage in your home. It learns your habits and preferences, and then automatically adjusts the temperature in your home accordingly:
You can set it up so it turns off the air when you leave for errands or work, and turns it back on when you head home. You can have it track your location via your smartphone You can control everything on the thermostat through your phone
The companion app is free, but the Nest is not. Nest claims its smart thermostat will “pay for itself in cost savings” over time by helping you to reduce your energy bill. In fact, some energy companies will refund you the cost of Nest when you install the device and sign up for select plans, simply because you can save so much. Get it: Nest Learning Thermostat | $249
Light Bulb Finder
Believe it or not, one of the most egregious power hogs in your home may be your light bulbs. You can actually save quite a bit of money by swapping out your traditional bulbs with more energy-efficient ones. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, changing to more efficient bulbs means you will use about 25 percent to 80 percent less energy. These more modern bulbs tend to last 3-25 times longer than traditional ones, saving you even more money. With the Light Bulb Finder app, you can find local stores that sell energy-efficient bulbs. The app also provides a bunch of helpful tips, namely concerns you’ll want to know about regarding traditional bulbs. It will even recommend different types of bulbs. Get it: Light Bulb Finder | Free By following these tips along with a few others, you’ll save money on your heating and cooling costs, as well as reduce your carbon footprint. Plus, it’s kind of fun to challenge yourself and see how you can reduce your costs. Featured photo credit: Pexels via pexels.com
