Simple Hacks to Help Lower your Energy Bill

Saving on your energy bill each month can be done by following a few housekeeping rules. The cost of electricity can be a large budget for some households. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, for U.S. residential customers in 2022 $137 per month (or about $1,600 a year), was the average electric bill per household. 

 

Power and Light 

Are you guilty of leaving lights on that are not being used? Keeping lights on accounts for about 15% of overall power usage. Here are three things you can add to your space to help limit overusing power when it is not necessary. 

 

Switch to LED lighting – Using lighting products that can cut back on cost will save you your good, earned money. Switching to LED can save you up to $255 per year. Opt to change out the incandescent bulbs on light fixtures. Do not attempt this project alone. Call a trusted electrician to assist you. 

 

Add a dimmer switch – The ability to adjust the brightness in a space can help cut back on energy cost. 

 

Add a Motion switch – This device will assist in turning off lights in rooms that are not occupied. 

 

Using smart power strips – 10% of home energy use is from standby gadgets that do not truly power off fully, such as TVs, large speakers, and computers. To help you save $100 per year on energy you can use smart power strips for these items. When your devices are not in use, the smart power strip will cut off the power until you are ready to resume use. 

 

Water 

Did you know hot water is the second-largest expense in powering homes? Washing clothes with cool water, reducing the length of hot showers, and running less dishwasher loads (only run it when it is full) can cut back significantly on your monthly power usage. 

 

Heating and cooling 

The best opportunity to cut costs on your electric bill is in the heating and cooling of your home and larger home appliances. 

 

Adjust your thermostat – By adjusting 7-10 degrees when you are away from home, you can cut back on energy cost. Crack a window in the cooler months to give your AC a little rest. You can also purchase a programmable thermostat to set it and forget it. 

 

Keep up with routine maintenance – Cleaning refrigerator coils yearly, swapping out the air filters and hiring a trusted technition for an annual check can all ensure your HVAC and appliances run efficiently. 

 

Trying some of these tips can help your energy bills annually. Any amount of money saved is worth celebrating!