For many, their monthly utility bill is the biggest expense after their mortgage. The electricity required to run air conditioning, heating, lights and the water heater can all add up to a lot at the end of the month. If you’re looking for ways on how to reduce your electricity bill, you’ll be surprised to learn that it actually doesn’t require much time or money. All you have to do is be more mindful and follow a few simple tips.
13 Easy Ways On How To Reduce Your Monthly Electricity Bill
1. Buy Energy Efficient Appliances
If you’re in need of a new washing machine, refrigerator or water heater or are nearing the end of your existing ones, consider buying energy efficient models to save long-term. Appliances that are labeled as Energy Star models, use much less energy than their counterparts. So if you want to start saving on your monthly electricity bill, prioritize switching your most used appliances to Energy Star models.
2. Use a Programmable Thermostat
Heating and cooling often is the main culprit of high electricity bills. An easy way on how to reduce your electricity bill is by resisting the urge to turn the thermostat up or down. One way to make this easy is to install a programmable thermostat, which allows you to set certain temperatures at different times of the day. The thermostat will automatically adjust the temperature in your home without you having to constantly change it. This can lead to more savings, as you can set your thermostat to shut off when you leave your house, and start up when you arrive home.
3. Insulate Your Home
Is your home properly insulated? During winter, the cold temperatures can threaten your indoor comfort. That main reason for this being poor insulation. Insulation allows your home to maintain its temperature, saving you energy and money. So be sure to check your pipes, water heater and windows and ensure they are insulated properly so you are not spending extra on heating or cooling your home throughout the year.
4. Install a Ceiling Fan
Another great way on how to reduce your electricity bill is to install ceiling fans. Fans can make a room feel cooler and they keep the air circulating in your home so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard. So next time it’s hot, opt for turning the fan on before opting to turn the air conditioning on right away.
5. Switch to LEDs
Did you know that LED light bulbs use 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs? Swap out your bulbs for LED lights and save up to $75 per year. Start by replacing the bulbs in the rooms which you use most often, and work your way to changing the rest as they burn out.
6. Lower the Temp on Your Water Heater
A decent percentage of your electricity goes towards heating your water for things such as your dishwasher or hot showers. By lowering the temperature of your water heater, you can cut down on your electricity bill. The temperature is typically set to around 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but lowering it down to 130 or 120 degrees can reduce your heating costs by 10%. Another thing to try is that if you’re ever going on vacation or spending time away from your home, turn off your water heater to conserve more energy.
7. Clean the Dryer Lint Trap
Not scraping out and cleaning the dryer link before doing your laundry can cause build up of lint, making your dryer work harder and run longer, using more energy in the end. Clean out your dryer’s lint trap filter every few months to ensure it is clean and there is no buildup.
8. Stop Preheating Your Oven
We all do it, but food that needs to be cooked for a long period of time doesn’t really benefit from a preheated oven. So keep that in mind the next time you’re using your oven to cook and save yourself some electricity usage by not preheating your oven.
9. Wash Clothes in Cold Water
If you don’t already do this, you should start now. Washing your clothes in hot water requires more energy as your water heater has to work hard and use a considerable amount of energy to heat the water. Washing your clothes in cold water can cut your load’s energy usage in half. Another tip is to also try and run full loads instead of small loads as the same amount of energy is used for both.
10. Line Dry Your Laundry
It’s no secret that dryers use up a lot of energy. They can use up to 1800-5000 watts per load. If you have room to spare, try drying your clothes indoors on hangers. Another option is to set up a clothesline in your backyard and let the sun do all the drying work.
11. Add Solar Panels to Your Home
What’s the best way to save money on your electricity bill? Using no electricity at all. Consider getting outdoor solar lighting or installing solar panels for your home. They absorb sunlight during the day and then use the energy to power your lights or other things in your home.
12. Wash and Dry Dishes by Hand
As mentioned many times in this article, heating water can be quite costly and accounts for most of the energy used in homes. Cutting back on your hot water usage can make a huge difference in your electricity bills. Therefore, when it comes to dishes, it’s best to eliminate your dishwasher in order to save some money and wash and dry dishes by hand whenever possible. If not using the dishwasher isn’t an option, then consider turning off the heat dry setting on your dishwasher to reduce some extra energy usage.
13. Keep the Sun Out
Direct sunlight into your home can quickly make the temperature inside rise, especially during the summer. By keeping the sun out, you can definitely reduce your air conditioning energy consumption. Close blinds and curtains in your home or consider installing tinted windows to save on your electricity bill.
