Energy-saving Tips
When your budget is already stretched from holiday activities, decorations, gifts and cards, try saving money with these energy-saving tips provided by the California Energy Commission:
- Cook several of your holiday foods at the same time. Just make sure you leave enough room for the heat to circulate around each dish.
- Microwaving foods rather than using a conventional oven uses around 50 percent less energy. Try using them to bake sweet potatoes, steam fresh vegetables or heat up leftovers.
- Remove all needed items from your refrigerator or freezer at one time. Leaving the door open for a longer period of time while you take out the items you need is more efficient than opening and closing it several times.
- Use your dishwasher. A load of dishes cleaning in a dishwasher requires 37 percent less water than washing dishes by hand.
- Evaluate your holiday lights. While most C7 or C9 energy-efficient bulbs use 5-7 watts per bulb, some of the older strings use up to 10 watts per bulb.
Save Money on Your Utility Bills
One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is saving money. And with January being one of the coldest months of the year, you are likely to spend extra on heating your home. Use these tips to save on your utility bill.
- Change air filters regularly (monthly for inexpensive units).
- Have your duct work inspected and repair any leaks.
- Keep all windows and doors located near your thermostat closed tightly.
- Keep heat sources such as lamps and appliances away from your thermostat.
- Turn down your heating system’s thermostat to 68°F or even lower if no one is home for several days.
- Close fireplace damper when not in use.
- Keep curtains open on the south side of the house and closed on the north side during the day to help keep warm.
- Use area rugs to keep your feet warm if you have hardwood or tile floors.
Shop Local in 2017
Shop local. Buy local. Go local. Why all the fuss? Studies have shown that when you buy from a locally owned business, those businesses, in turn, purchase from other local businesses, ultimately strengthening the local economy. Below are three lesser known reasons it’s great to shop local.
- Local businesses support the community.
Non-profits receive an average 250% more support from small businesses than large businesses. - Local businesses create jobs.
Small businesses are the largest employer nationally and provide the most jobs to residents in the community. - Local businesses provide better service.
Local businesses often hire people who better understand the products and services they offer and take the time to get to know customers.
SERVICEMASTER DRR is a locally owned business and is here to help. Our home remediation technicians and project managers are standing by 24/7/365, including weekends and holidays. Our territory coverage can include anywhere from the Golden Gate Bridge all the way down to Hollister, CA. It is our pleasure to be a part of the San Francisco community.
