Saving money on your electric bill is not hard and does not require many sacrifices. The only goal is to be smart about how you use electricity, and that is an easy thing to do.
Many people forget they can do many small things to save money on their electric bills. With the tips below, your monthly expenses will decrease significantly.
- Insulate Your Water Heater
Heat water for less money with insulation. Just wrap the tank in an insulating blanket to keep it warm even when the water inside is cold. Also, be sure to turn off the heater when no one is using hot water so that you don’t waste energy heating up a space that isn’t necessary. Save $20 to $30 per year by wrapping the tank and turning off heaters when they aren’t needed.
- Keep Your Fridge Full
If you have room, pack your refrigerator with food so that it stays full and cold at all times, reducing how often you need to use the appliance. This can save you a few hundred dollars each year on your electric bill.
- Curtail Your AC Usage in Summer
Close your curtains and shades during the day to keep the sun from heating your home, and use fans to circulate the air instead of running the AC. You can also set your thermostat to a higher temperature when you’re not home or asleep to avoid using as much energy.
- Replace Your Light Bulbs
Switch out your light bulbs for LED versions, which use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Over time, this can save you $100 or more on your electric bill.
- Unplug Electronics When Not in Use
Many electronics continue to draw power even when they’re switched off. Unplug them or use a power strip to cut the flow of electricity when not in use. This can also prevent appliances from overloading your circuits and causing a power outage.
- Install Solar Panels
If you have the money, you can install solar panels on your roof to generate electricity for free! Many companies will also finance solar panels, which means no upfront costs and low monthly payments over time.
- Use Your Oven Less Often
Do most of your cooking on the stovetop instead of in the oven. The oven takes much longer but uses more energy than just boiling water on top of the stove or crockpot, so it is better to choose an alternative cooking method if at all possible.
- Wet Your Lawn Less
If you water your lawn less often, it will need to use less energy to stay hydrated. You may need to adjust your watering habits depending on your climate and the type of soil in your yard, but this can save you big bucks on your monthly water bill.
- Get a Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat like the Nest Learning Thermostat can help you save energy by automatically turning off when you’re not home and adjusting the temperature according to your schedule. This can save you up to $200 per year on your electric bill.
- Check for Leaks
Leaks in pipelines or hoses can waste gallons of water every day, costing you money on your water bill. Try a water meter to determine how much water you’re using in your home.
- Buy Energy-efficient Appliances
New appliances use less energy and save you money on your electric bill in the long run, so consider purchasing new appliances every few years instead of living with older inefficient models.
- Get a Low-flow Shower Head
Low-flow showerheads reduce the amount of hot water you use when taking showers, saving you hundreds of gallons each month which equals big savings on your water bill!
- Use a Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats can help keep your house at a comfortable temperature while still saving money. Just be sure to adjust them during vacations or periods when you’re not around to avoid wasting energy.
- Use Drapes or Blinds to Control Heat Gain
If your home is flooded with sunshine in summer, invest in drapes or heavy blinds to keep the heat out and reduce how much air conditioning you need to run.
- Use a Power Pressure Washer
Instead of using a water hose or power washer, you can rent or buy a pressure washer to clean everything from your driveway to the siding on your home. This uses less water and reduces energy costs at the same time.
There are many ways to save money on your electric bill each month. Just be sure to evaluate your energy usage and make some minor changes to how you live to see a significant difference in your monthly bill.
