Long Vacations: Taking a long vacation is always fun, but there is the downside of the cost it takes to keep your house running while you are away and make sure that everything is okay for you to return to. With the cost of energy on the rise, the last thing you probably want is to have to pay for energy in your home when you’re on vacation and not even using it. The good news is that there are several things that you can do to reduce energy use and make sure that you’re not spending more than you need to while you are traveling.
Smart Products
Smart products like smart thermostats and smart lighting can be a great idea for those who like to travel for a while. Smart lights can be controlled remotely using your phone, even if you are in another country, so if you want to put the lights on for a while each day without wasting too much energy, just to keep your home secure by making it look like somebody’s in, then you can easily do this with an app. A smart thermostat is another great option, as you can control it using your phone so you don’t need to have the heating or cooling system working when you’re not there, but you can set it to the temperature you want once you’re at the airport and about to come home. A cheap smart thermostat doesn’t cost a huge amount to get and set up, and can save you a lot of money over time.
Rent Out Your House
If you are traveling for months at a time then it might be a good idea to rent out your house to somebody who needs a short-term place to stay. This could be a family member or friend, or you could even advertise your home as a short-term rental. This could work out well as there are always people looking for somewhere to stay when they are in the area on business or while they are having renovation work done to their own home. However, it’s a good idea to have somebody you know in the area who is willing to look after your property and deal with any issues your tenants might have. This way, you can charge rent to cover the cost of not only living in the property but also any energy costs they incur while you’re traveling.
Switch Everything Off
Finally, simply switching everything off if your home is going to be empty can help you make sure that you are not spending more on energy that you need to. Appliances like the fridge and freezer don’t need to be switched on if nothing is in them, so if you’re planning a long vacation, it might be a good idea to clean them out. Make sure that devices like TVs and PCs aren’t plugged in as simply being on standby will use energy.
If you are going to be traveling for some time, there are several ways you can reduce the amount of energy your home uses when empty, and the amount you pay.