Many people dream of a lower electric bill each month, especially during the summer and winter seasons. But it doesn’t have to be just wishful thinking. All it takes is a little awareness of some of the different ways to conserve energy, and you could cut your electric bill considerably. Below are ten tips you can put into practice right now and learn how to save on electricity bills and lower your costs!
If you’re interested in more (easy!) ways to save money, be sure to check out this post. Enjoy!
10 Things To Do At Home To Reduce Electricity Usage
1. Turn Off All Electronics When Not In Use to Conserve Energy
When they’re not in use, electronics and devices are still sucking up electricity, even in standby mode. Standby power can make up 10% of your electric bill, and you’re effectively paying for energy you’re not using. What’s the best way to deal with this?
Get a few power strips and plug your electronics in so you can turn them all off with a flick of one switch. Once you get into the habit of doing it, it will become second nature.
This even includes things like your washer and dryer, TVs, chargers, and more. So, when you aren’t charging your devices, unplug the charger!
2. Use Energy-Efficient or LED Light Bulbs
You could have a lower electric bill if you simply replace your light bulbs. There are so many choices on the market these days for LED or energy-efficient lights, that it no longer makes sense to keep using traditional incandescent bulbs.
It’s true you will pay a little more for an energy-efficient light bulb, but they last up to six times longer and use 75% less energy.
So, they will save you money over time, especially if you have a lot of lights!
3. Use Cold Water When Washing Clothes
Using hot water to wash your clothes can send your electric bill skyrocketing. To conserve energy, skip the hot wash and choose the cold water setting instead. Many eco-friendly laundry detergents work perfectly well in cold water; just don’t overfill the machine, or it will have to work harder than it needs to.
If you have a newer washer, it is more efficient and can wash in cold easier. Check your washer settings to find more ways to use it more efficiently.
4. Do Not Use The Clothes Dryer But Dry Clothes Naturally
We all know a dryer can be incredibly convenient, but you don’t always need to use one to dry your clothes. A line or rack to hang your clothes on will save you a lot of power.
If you need to use the dryer, clean out the lint filter, so it runs efficiently.
Plus, you’ll get that fresh smell!
You can also save money by running the washer and dryer in the evenings and early mornings. The price of electricity is higher at the peak of the day, especially in the summer months.
This is because the demand is higher. If you can run your appliances when the demand is low, like in the early mornings and evenings, you will pay less for the electricity that you are using.
5. Keep Your Refrigerator and Freezer Full
Planning your meals in advance will not only reduce the temptation to eat out, but it can also help you save energy. This is because keeping your fridge and freezer full means it has less work to do to cool the air space.
If you can’t manage to keep a full fridge or freezer, then fill some plastic bottles with water and use them to load up the empty space.
So you can save money on electricity AND by not eating out so much! It’s a great way to conserve energy at home that many people do not even realize.
6. Invest In A Programmable Thermostat To Set Heating and Cooling Times
A programmable thermostat can reduce your energy bills by about $180 a year, so it’s well worth investing in one. They’re not that expensive to buy and get professionally installed. The benefit of a programmable thermostat is that it allows you to save electricity by programming it to heat or cool your home only when you need it.
7. Make Sure Your Home Is Properly Insulated
Winter is an expensive time of the year for power. However, the better you can insulate your home, the less money you’ll spend on heating. Fix cracks and holes and check sealings around windows and doors, as these are all possible escape routes for heat.
Thermal backed curtains are also a good investment to secure against heat loss.
Another tip is to get an insulation jacket for your water tank. This can prevent heat loss by 25% – 45% and save you about 7% – 16% in water heating costs.
Cutting back on your electric bills in the summer or the winter involves being mindful of energy leaks and sealing up your house in order to conserve energy.
Making sure that major leaks are sealed will help your heating and cooling bills and keep pests out!
8. Ask Your Utility Company For An Energy Audit
If you’re unsure what changes you can make to cut your electric bill, your utility company may provide an energy audit. If not, then you should be able to find an independent energy company that offers this service.
A professional home energy auditor will inspect your home and provide a report of any areas where you may be losing energy. They can also give you a plan of action for improving your energy efficiency.
You will likely save the amount on your bill to have the audit pay for itself!
9. Turn Off Your Lights To Conserve Energy!
Turning off your lights when you aren’t using them can save you a couple of hundred dollars a year if you are still using incandescent lights!
If your family is like mine, they have every light in the house on all the time. It drives me insane.
If you can get them to shut the lights and TV off when they leave the room, you can save on your bills and maybe even your sanity!
10. When Bathing, Take Shorter, Cooler Showers
Hot water is expensive! You can save money and help improve your health by taking shorter, cooler showers. Taking cooler showers can help you increase circulation, reduce soreness, and even help with itchy skin, not to mention conserve energy!
Plus, it will help you save money!
Also, remember that it’s cheaper to use electricity in the evenings and early mornings, so save money and conserve energy by getting up earlier to shower. And, you use less water by showering than you do by filling up your bathtub.
11. Air Dry Your Dishes
A dishwasher does use energy, but according to the California Energy Commission, using an Energy-Star qualified dishwasher conserves energy better than handwashing. However, do not choose the “Heated Dry Cycle,” but let your dishes air dry by opening the dishwasher a tad.
Conserving Energy At Home Summary
These are just a few simple and easy ways to save money on your electricity bill and conserve energy at home without drastically changing your life.
What are some ways that you save on your electricity bills?
As you can see there are lots of inexpensive and practical ways you can start to lower your electric bill and conserve energy at home. If you’re serious about saving on your monthly expenses, this article offers you further tips.