How to Save on Electric Bills Without Sacrificing Safety

Saving money on your electricity bills can seem daunting, but there are ways to cut costs without compromising the safety and comfort of your home. Here are some tips to help you reduce your power usage and monthly charges.

Audit Your Electrical Usage

The first step is understanding where and how you use electricity.

Track Your Monthly Usage

• Review your monthly electric bills for the past year. Look for seasons or months where your usage spiked. This can clue you into appliances that may be energy hogs.

• Sign up for online access to your utility account. Many providers let you analyze your hourly, daily, and monthly usage. Look for patterns that reveal times of heavy use.

Conduct an Appliance Audit

• Make a list of all electric appliances, devices, and systems in your home. This includes lights, electronics, HVAC system, water heater, and major kitchen and laundry appliances.

• Look up the wattages for each appliance and calculate how much power it uses in a day and over a year. Identify the biggest energy users.

Consider an Energy Audit

• A professional energy audit surveys your home's efficiency and pinpoints areas for improvement. Some utilities provide free or discounted assessments.

• An auditor will check insulation, air leaks, heating/cooling system, appliances, lighting, and more. Their report will estimate savings from upgrades.

Adjust Your Energy Use Habits

Once you know your electricity habits, you can modify behaviors for efficiency.

Power Down Appliances and Electronics

• Unplug devices like TVs, DVD players, and game consoles when not in use. Ideal for infrequent-use gadgets.

• Put computers, monitors, and printers into sleep mode when not active.

Change Thermostat Settings

• Set thermostats to 78°F in summer and 68°F in winter. Turn down at night and when away. Each degree change saves up to 5% on bills.

• Use programmable thermostats to automate temperature changes for maximum savings.

Shift Usage of Major Appliances

• Run dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers at night to take advantage of off-peak rates.

• Microwave instead of oven cook when possible. Microwaves use 50-70% less energy than stovetops.

• Fill up refrigerators and freezers so cool air doesn't escape, and keep seals in good condition.

Be Wise With Lighting

• Switch out incandescent bulbs for LEDs which use at least 75% less power.

• Install motion sensor lights outdoors and in infrequently used rooms.

• Open shades during the day to maximize natural light.

Make Energy Efficient Upgrades

Some equipment upgrades require an investment but can dramatically cut electric costs.

Improve Insulation

• Ensure insulation levels meet or exceed recommendations for your climate zone. Add more in attics, basements and walls for greater efficiency.

Seal Air Leaks

• Caulk and weatherstrip around windows, doors, pipes and wires running outside. This keeps cooled/heated air from escaping.

Upgrade HVAC System

• Replace an aging AC unit, furnace, or heat pump with an ENERGY STAR® model. Get professional sizing for optimal efficiency.

• Have an HVAC tune-up done yearly to keep the system running at peak performance.

Buy ENERGY STAR® Appliances

• When old appliances need replacing, choose ENERGY STAR® rated washers, dryers, refrigerators, and dishwashers.

• Smart thermostats like Nest help control HVAC usage and can cut energy bills by 20%.

Improve Water Heating

• For electric water heaters, set temperature to 120°F. Insulate tanks and pipes.

• Consider tankless water heaters that only heat water on demand.

Explore Alternate Energy Sources

• Solar panels can dramatically reduce reliance on grid electricity. Tax credits and incentives may offset costs.

• Some utility companies allow customers to purchase renewable energy credits to support green power generation.

Safety Tips

While making changes to save electricity, be mindful of some key safety precautions.

• Have all electrical upgrades and repairs done by a licensed professional.

• When using extension cords, choose the proper wire gauge to handle the electric load. Overloaded cords can overheat.

• Never leave space heaters unattended. Keep combustible materials at least 3 feet away.

• Make sure lighting is adequate in stairwells, pathways, and entrances to avoid trips and falls.

• Test ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) monthly to ensure they will trip and prevent shocks.

• Teach children never to put fingers or objects into outlets. Install tamper-resistant outlets.

With the right knowledge and preparation, you can take control of your energy bills. Audit your home's electrical use, modify behaviors and habits, and make strategic upgrades while keeping safety a priority. Little changes can add up to big savings over time.