Save Energy: Tips to Save Money While Lowering Your Carbon Footprint

At SCANA Energy, we strive to provide our customers with the best value and service. Since we are also committed to being good stewards of the environment, we’ve come up with some ways to help you reduce your carbon footprint and save money while doing it. Make these five changes and watch your savings grow.

Change your air filter regularly. Depending on your home, family and pets, you may need to change it monthly. A dirty filter slows airflow and makes your HVAC system work harder and waste energy to heat or cool your home. Changing your air filter regularly is an easy way to save up to 15% on your natural gas bill. Plus, keeping it clean prevents damage from dirt buildup and saves you money on expensive maintenance down the line.
Lowering the temperature of your water heater is also a quick and easy way to save. When set over 120 degrees, you waste both energy and money. Lowering the temperature on your water heater takes just a few minutes and will help you save year-round.
Raise or lower (depending on the season) the thermostat temperature when no one’s home. Reducing the difference between the temperature outdoors and inside your home will result in less energy being used to maintain the temperature. If it seems like a chore to remember, you may want to invest in a programmable thermostat This will allow you to automatically adjust the temperature, making it easy to keep your overall energy use down.
Install water-saving faucets and shower heads, these can decrease your water usage by 25–60%. You’ll not only save on your water bill, but you’ll also use less hot water and save on natural gas.
Another great way to save on both your water and natural gas costs is to repair leaky faucets as soon as you notice a problem. Even a seemingly small drip can waste hundreds of gallons of water each year if it goes unfixed. Plus, decreasing your water usage is a great way to help the environment. The less water we use, the less energy we waste on treating, pumping, and heating it.