Savings Tips for Parents

Congratulations on the new addition to your family, your home energy bill will never be the same! No need to worry, APG&E has you covered with some great ideas for how to save energy even with the extra electricity demands that may come with taking care of a new baby. 

LED Night-lights
Let’s face it, you are going to be up at all hours and not always completely alert. Instead of lighting up the entire house how about using a few LED night-lights to guide you to your destination. Not only will they save you money, but they are easier on sleep deprived eyes. You can get ones that remain on all night or are motion triggered lights.

LED Light Bulbs
Go ahead and make the switch from regular bulbs to LED. They are more energy efficient and last significantly longer. How much longer? The average lifespan for a LED bulb is 50,000 hours versus 1,000 hours for an incandescent bulb. That is a lot of diaper changes.

Programmable Thermostat
Your routine may become inconsistent. Take some of the guesswork out of setting your thermostat by getting a programmable/smart thermostat. There are lots to choose from and one for any budget. By adjusting your thermostat 7°-10°F for 8 hours from its normal setting you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling according to energy.gov.

Smart Power Strips
These are like regular power strips but better! They detect when a device is in standby mode and cut off power to the device to save energy. With all the gadgets that you will be using (baby monitors, sound and light machines like the Hatch, and fancy bassinets) any power savings will be a bonus. There are even power strips that allow you to control each plug remotely through an app. The Kasa Smart Plug Power Strip is one of many smart power strips to look into.

Full Loads Only
You might be tempted to put on a load of laundry or run the dishwasher whenever you think of it, but it is actually not the best idea. To be the most energy efficient, we recommend running your laundry or dishwasher only when you have full loads.

EnergyStar Appliances
Replace your old, outdated appliances with those that are more energy efficient. Take a look at what energystar.gov has by the way of products. Use the rebate finder on the site to see if you are eligible for any savings or disconnects. Just enter your zip code to see what is available in your area. I just got $50 off a smart thermostat from CenterPoint!

Skip The Dryer
Instead of using the dryer, you can save energy by hanging your clothes to dry. You don’t have to hang your clothes outside although the fresh air is nice! For indoor drying consider a retractable clothesline, drying racks, or even your shower rod. Use your washing machines fastest spin cycle to wring as much water out of your clothing as possible before air drying. Remember not to overcrowd your laundry, give items space to dry. In the summer not running the dryer also helps by not heating up the house. Every little bit helps.

Your usage is bound to increase with the newest little family member, but we hope that you have found some of our tips useful!