We all rely and use electricity on a daily basis and it is usually the highest bill we face at the end of the month. Following a few simple tips can help reduce your electricity bill, saving you money.
Turn off the lights
- Turn off the lights when you leave the room. Leaving them on is not only unnecessary, but it also raises your electric bill.
- Switch regular incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They consume 75% less energy than standard light bulbs plus they can last much longer.
- Install motion sensors on outside lights in your home. They turn on with movement and automatically turn off, saving electricity and money.
- While using your office or study area, invest in a small table lamp instead of lighting the whole room. Investing in a smaller appliance can help lower the amount of electricity used to light up the room or in this case, only what you need.
Unplug appliances
- Some appliance pull electricity even while they are not being used. Unplugging small appliances or can help reduce electricity consumption. You can even invest in surge protectors, which can plug in multiple appliances into one area and then switch them all off in one switch.
- Keep the printer switched off when it is not in use. On the same note, turn off your computer when you’re not using it, even if only for a short while.
Turn up the temperature!
- Setting your AC to 78 degrees while you are home and 82 degrees while you are away will help reduce electricity consumption. Install an automatic thermostat to help with this process. It can start cooling down the house an hour before you arrive.
- Turning on your ceiling fan in the room you’re in can help you feel cooler and they use less electricity than turning the AC down a few notches.
- Turn down the refrigerator, freezer, and water heaters. Lower temperature will increase your electricity bill. Turning them up, even a couple of degrees can help reduce consumption and still keep food safe.
Invest in smart appliances
- Buy energy saving appliances to replace older models. Remember that smaller appliances use less electricity, so while looking for your next appliance, keep in mind the bigger it is and the more gadgets it has, the more electricity it will use.
- Installing low-flow water fixtures can reduce the amount of water use in the home, which reduces your electric bill. It is a small investment and a simple to install device that can slash your water consumption by half.
Maintain
- Clean your filters or replace them every month.
- Dust your vents and keep them clean of obstacles. Never block necessary vents with furniture or appliances.
- Never use your guest room? Shut the vent. There is no point cooling a room no one is using.
Be efficient
- Only run the dishwasher with a full load. After the rinse cycle, open the door and allow the dishes to air dry. This will help reduce the consumption.
- Hang up your clothes instead of using the dryer. If this is not an option, dry full loads and try to continuously dry loads one after another to keep heat inside the dryer for the next load, reducing the amount of heat needed to dry.
- Use cold water in the washing machine instead of hot water. It is just as efficient in cleaner clothes and can help lower your electric bill.