If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that changing our routines can be hard. We're creatures of habits, after all.
That’s probably why New Year’s resolutions don’t stick for most people. Yet, each year people everywhere still make resolutions for the new year. You’ll be glad to know that your resolutions are not in vain. People who make resolutions tend to do better than those who only have a vague goal for change. Good news, right? Now for the bad news — of the 41% of people who make a resolution, only 9% will be successful by the end of the year.
While we may not be able to help you stick to your workout routine or eat more fruits and veggies, we’ve got you covered on saving energy and money for 2022.
Make it easy to do right and hard to do wrong.
Make saving energy easy by setting your programmable thermostat at 68 degrees while you’re awake and lower while asleep or away. Then, let the thermostat do the work. Ensuring your furnace and air conditioner are in peak condition is a good habit for energy savings. Did you know a regularly inspected furnace can reduce your bill by 10% annually? Consider signing up for our Service Guard program and adding an annual inspection. An annual inspection will not only save you money, but keep you and your family safer, preventing malfunctions like carbon monoxide leaks. Plus, for a limited time, you can get a free month of Service Guard. Pretty easy, huh?
What we do everyday matters more than what we do once in a while.
The little things really add up when it comes to saving energy. Turn off appliances when not using them (like computer monitors and printers), or use power strips to cut all power to equipment. Many electronics will continue to draw a small amount of power even when off. Adopting this habit also means you’re living a more sustainable life. Add some other sustainable habits, like signing up for ebills (reducing your paper usage) and opting for LED lightbulbs. Some customers can even get a rebate for changing to these more energy-efficient bulbs.
By giving something up, you may gain.
If you give up those sweets, you’ll gain improved health. Why not give up the stress of suddenly receiving a higher-than-normal energy bill? With our budget billing program, your monthly bill will be based on your average usage during the past year. No surprises. While you’re at it, check out our customer portal where you can sign up for auto-pay and monitor your energy usage.
Things often get harder before they get easier.
No one likes to spend part of their Saturday making sure their home is Winter Ready, but putting in a little work now will pay off with lower energy bills later. Take a look at these weatherization tips and then implement them. Once done, you can sit back and relax, knowing you’ve made your house more energy efficient.
Don’t worry. We're here to help you keep your habit of being more energy efficient in 2022. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, where we share even more energy saving tips!
Black Hills Energy Blog
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