How to Reduce Your Electricity Bill By Using Less Known Tricks
I've noticed my electricity bills have been quite high lately. As prices seem to keep rising, I'm looking for ways to reduce my energy usage and lower my costs. Here are some less known tricks I've discovered to help cut down my electricity bill.
Audit Your Appliances and Devices
Take a look at all the appliances and devices in your home. Make a list of everything that uses electricity, including lights, TVs, computers, microwaves, and more. Pay attention to the wattage of each item. The higher the watts, the more energy it consumes.
After completing your audit, identify opportunities to reduce energy waste. For example, I discovered my old refrigerator was using a whopping 720 watts. Replacing it with a new Energy Star certified model saved me over $100 per year!
Use Power Strips and Smart Plugs
Plugging appliances into a power strip allows you to completely cut off power with the flip of a switch. This eliminates idle energy use from devices in standby mode.
Smart plugs take this a step further by allowing you to control outlets remotely via smartphone. With schedules and timers, you can automatically reduce wasted energy from electronic devices. I put my TV, computer speakers, and lamps on smart plugs to limit vampire energy draw.
Switch to LED Light Bulbs
My old incandescent bulbs were electrical hogs, using 60 watts or more. Upgrading to LED light bulbs slashes lighting costs significantly. An LED bulb only uses about 6-8 watts to produce the same brightness.
And thanks to their long 30,000+ hour lifespan, I don't have to replace them nearly as often. Going LED has saved me about $40 per year for each bulb swapped. It really adds up!
Seal Air Leaks with Caulk and Weatherstripping
Small cracks and gaps in your home's walls, floors, windows, and doors allow conditioned air to escape. Sealing these leaks with caulk and weatherstripping provides better insulation, so your HVAC system doesn't have to work as hard.
After finding and sealing all air leaks in my house, my heating and cooling bills dropped by 11% the very next month. It cost me less than $30 for supplies - a fantastic return on investment!
Install a Programmable Thermostat
My old thermostat wasn't smart enough to account for daily changes in my schedule and needs. Upgrading to a programmable thermostat allows me to customize my home's heating and cooling based on my comings and goings.
Now I keep the temperature cooler when I'm away at work, and bump it up just before arriving back home. I also lower it at night when I'm sleeping under blankets anyway. Making these small adjustments with a programmable thermostat has lowered my energy bills by around $50-75 per year.
Use Ceiling Fans to Supplement AC
Rather than cranking down the air conditioner on hot summer days, I run my ceiling fans to circulate the cool air more effectively. This allows me to keep the thermostat temperature set higher without losing my comfort.
Ceiling fans make it feel several degrees cooler by creating a wind chill effect. Letting the fans do some of the heavy lifting has cut my AC runtime by around 10%, lowering my electricity costs. Just be sure to turn them off when you leave a room, as they don't actually cool the air.
Change HVAC Filters Monthly
Dirty air filters force your HVAC system to work much harder to push air through. I used to neglect changing my AC filter, but doing so monthly helps it run more efficiently.
My heating and cooling bills have dropped around 5-10% since I began routinely replacing my air filter each month. It only takes a few minutes to swap out, so it's one of the easiest ways to keep my energy costs in check.
Wash Clothes in Cold Water
Heating water accounts for about 90% of the energy your washer uses. So I stopped washing my clothes exclusively in hot water. Switching primarily to cold water cycles has cut a load's energy use in half.
I only select hot water for laundry loads that truly need it, like sheets and towels. For most clothes, cold water cleans just fine with today's detergents. This simple change has reduced my washing machine electricity use by 35-40% with no sacrifice in cleaning performance.
Take Advantage of Natural Light
Opening the blinds and curtains during daytime allows natural sunlight to brighten my home, reducing the need for lights. To take this further, I adjusted my schedule to align tasks requiring brighter light - like reading or working - during sunnier parts of the day.
For higher daylight savings, I also trimmed back some outdoor trees and shrubs blocking window light. Harnessing free natural light has cut my electrical use from light bulbs by around 20%. Plus it makes my house look and feel brighter!
Making a few upgrades and tweaks around your home can lead to substantial electricity savings. Try out some of these less common tips I've found to dramatically reduce my energy bills. With a little diligence, you'll be keeping more money in your wallet too!