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How to Lower Your Energy Bill
Did you know an average homeowner in America pays more than $1300 for electricity annually?
It means that your electric bill can eat up 5 to 10 percent of your income. Note that there are tons of other things or factors that contribute to your energy bill. Determining what you need to focus on is perhaps the most daunting task to lower this cost.
The good news is that there are ways you can shave off the cost of your monthly energy bill without compromising on daily comforts at home.
Here are some smart tips that are simple yet cost-effective to help you lower your electricity bill.
Purchase Energy-Efficient Appliances
No matter how complicated it may sound to purchase a new appliance to save energy and money, still, it is a smart way to make your home energy efficient. According to expert energy industry analysts, replacing a decade-old refrigerator with an energy-efficient one is an excellent way to save both money and energy.
The modern appliances come with advanced features that save you hundreds of dollars. Plus, when you shop around for advance energy-efficient products, it saves you more money than items eligible for discounts and rebates.
Use a Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans make a good option, in contrast to the air conditioner. They are not only more economical but also consume a smaller amount of electricity. Also, it is even easier to manipulate your dwelling’s temperature with a ceiling fan compared to AC’s temperature.
Get a Home Energy Audit
You may find many utility services that offer home energy audits to their customers. It is, without a doubt, a worth taking benefit of.
You can hire the services or can conduct the energy audit yourself. It will help you identify the areas that require you to trim your electricity usage.
Unplug Electronics
There is no getting around it. Most of us forget phone and battery chargers plugged in. While it seems that the small objects don’t consume much electricity, they suck change from your bank account. That is why you need to be vigilant when removing phone or chargeable things from the socket.
Make sure to keep them unplugged or use power strips to shut off the electricity. According to a recent consumer report, an average homeowner can save up to $25 to $70 each year by putting the desktop on standby.
Use Heat-Generating Electrical Appliances at Night
The idea is a no-brainer as you can use the oven or other heat-generating appliances whenever you want. It is worth mentioning that a hot over forces the air conditioner to work harder to maintain a comfortable house temperature in the daytime. It goes the same for dishwashers and clothes dryers.
Using these electrical devices at night when the temperature outside is cooler can save a lot of energy.
Stock Up Your Freezer and Fridge
Completely stocking your freezer and fridge is an effective way to make the appliance use less electricity to keep things cold. It also regulates temperature in the refrigerator and uses significantly less energy to keep it optimal.
If keeping the freezer and fridge full seems complicated, you can put ice bags and water pitchers in the open spaces. It will ensure the efficiency of your fridge. Plus, there are ways to reorganize the refrigerator and make it energy-efficient.
Use Cold Water to Wash Clothes
The idea of washing clothes in cold water may sound bizarre to you, but it has significance. The temperature of your washer doesn’t have to do anything with getting the clothes clean. But technological advances make washing clothes in normal-temperature or cold water is more effective than hot water.
Don’t worry if you think your clothes will not get clean in cold water. A cold water detergent is a solution to this problem.
Change Your Bulbs to LEDs
The secret to saving energy or electricity is within your reach. You can switch to LEDs or dimmers to use light according to your needs. An LED light is energy-efficient as it uses approximately 80% less electricity compared to traditional incandescent. Moreover, they also cost you four times less amount than regular lights.
That is to say, if you replace every single bulb in your home with a LED light or dimmer, you can save hundreds of dollars and energy.
Reduce Phantom Loads
Your home electronics consume more than 75% of the energy when they are switched off. The phenomenon refers to phantom loads of electricity usage. It mostly comes from your computers, stereos, kitchen appliances, and television. It can be an appliance that holds a specific setting or time to work.
As mentioned above, plugging in all these appliances into power strips and turning off these strips once in a while can help you reduce phantom loads.
Install Energy-Efficient Windows
Not all homeowners are aware of the benefits of installing energy-efficient windows. The idea is not only smart but also has become a trend. In fact, energy-efficient windows are one of the significant considerations for new and existing homes.
According to a recent statistic, heat loss and gain via windows contribute to 25% to 35% of residential cooling and heating energy use.
Suppose you’re choosing windows for a new home or need to replace the existing ones, consider investing in energy-efficient windows. But make sure that the type of windows you choose works best for the climate of your area.
Though energy-efficient windows are a costly investment, they pay you over time through a lower energy bill.
Get Your HVAC Units Checked Regularly
Scheduling a yearly HVAC unit maintenance is a smart way to reduce your electricity payments. Once you know the ins and outs of maintenance and inspection, you can benefit from no-surprise breakdowns while operating HVAC units at their top efficiency.
We say this because no matter how costly your HVAC unit is or what the maker promises, the device is always a complicated piece of equipment and prone to repairs and breakdowns. Most importantly, timely maintenance of your HVAC system can save you a tremendous amount of energy.
- Keep your House Well Insulated
- Some of the most important ways to reduce your energy bill include;
- Reducing air leaks by air sealing
- Properly insulating home
- Improving heating units
In general, newer homes have improved insulation systems than older constructions. But in many cases, the newer constructions don’t have insulation to the recommended and optimal levels. It is best to check the green building and energy efficiency programs to get the most effective solution.
Change Filters Regularly
If you want your HVAC unit to run at its peak efficiency, change its filter at least once a month. It will keep it clean and increase its capacity to save more energy.
Summing Up
All in all, whether you reside in an area that has rising sea-levels, extreme weather conditions, or heat waves, saving money on your energy bill will benefit you. Thus, the tips mentioned above can help you optimize savings and energy costs.
