How can I lower my utility bill in my Lubbock apartment?

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Metro Tower Lofts
Metro Tower Lofts offers energy star appliances and a programmable thermostat.

Keeping the lights on isn't cheap – never mind the air conditioning, water heater, and furnace. The typical household will spend an average of $2,200 per year on utilities. Adjusting your usage doesn't require much work and can save you 25% on your next bill. Keep reading for new ways to lower your utility bill in your new Lubbock apartment.

Heating and Cooling

Check seals on windows, doors, and appliances.

A faulty or broken seal allows the heating and cooling you pay for to flow out from your home. Make sure that your doors and windows are free from any damaged seals. The same goes for your fridge and freezer to keep the cold air where it belongs.

Fix leaky ductwork.

Repairing any leaky heating, air conditioning, and ventilation ducts can improve the efficiency of the heating and cooling systems in your apartment in Lubbock.

Install a programmable thermostat.

A programmable thermostat can make your heating and cooling system even more efficient. When you're asleep or away from home, set your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees. Doing this for at least eight hours daily can lower your yearly heating and cooling costs by around 10%.

Water

Take shorter showers.

You can cut your water usage by 10 gallons if you trim 2 minutes off your shower time.

Replace your showerhead.

Installing an efficient showerhead can reduce your water usage by 2,700 gallons per year. Be sure to look for one with the Water Sense label, as it is certified to meet the efficiency criteria set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Don't wash clothes in hot water.

Your water heater must work harder and use more electricity if you wash your clothes in hot water. Reduce your load energy usage by 50% by using warm or cold water when doing your laundry. Consider a Lubbock apartment with washer and dryer included so that you can always personalize your wash settings from the comfort of home.

Fix leaky faucets and don't hand wash dishes.

The constant dripping from a leaky faucet can drain your wallet, all while wasting gallons of water. While it may seem more water intensive, using a dishwasher in your Lubbock apartment is typically much more water efficient than handwashing, which uses a significant amount of water for even one dinner.

Adjust the temperature of your water heater.

Most water heaters have a default temperature setting of 140 degrees. Decrease the temperature to 120 degrees to reduce water heating costs by 10%.

Power and Lighting

Purchase energy-efficient appliances.

If you are looking into buying new appliances for your apartment in Lubbock, be sure only to purchase energy-efficient models. Newer energy-efficient models are required to use 5.8 gallons of water or less, compared to the older models that can use more than 10 gallons. Or, if your appliances are included, consider brand new apartments in Lubbock that are likely upgraded to have more modern and efficient appliances.

Swap out your lightbulbs.

Swapping out the bulbs in your home to compact fluorescent or LED bulbs can save you $75 per year. 
*Statistics sourced from NerdWallet.

These are the opinions of writers and not the opinions of LBKApts.com or any of our advertising partners.