What could you do with $100 bucks? Most of us aren’t at a loss for ways to spend some extra cash! Here’s four simple ways that can EACH save you $100 per year! These repairs are definitely worth taking into consideration– they don’t cost… they pay!
- Turn off the video games. An estimated 40% of American households have video game systems– which add up to $1 billion in electricity usage per year in the country! But that number can be drastically reduced (by about $100 per household per year) simply by turning off the system when it’s not in use! Not all gaming systems have a power down option when not in use, and oftentimes those that do are not activated by default.
- Wash your clothes in cold water. About 90% of the energy used in older, top-loading models comes from the fuel used to heat the water, according to the Department of Energy. There are also laundry products specifically designed for washing clothes in cold water.
- Install a low-flow water aerator on your sink nozzles and shower heads. The combined savings from the water and energy usage will quickly add up. If you’re not sure if you have a low-flow water aerator or now, look on the side of the sink nozzle. The rate of flow should be imprinted there. If the number is higher than 2.75 gallons per minute (gpm), it’s time to make an investment of about $5 to purchase a low-flow aerator.
- Turn your computer off. Your average desktop computer uses about 200 watts an hour. In Northwest Indiana, you’ll pay about $0.11 per kilowatt. If you leave your computer on 24/7, this adds up to $0.52 per day, $16.06 per month, or $192.72 per year! So by turning your computer off at night alone and not counting for weekends, you’ll save about $100 per year!
