We’ve been using electricity almost every day. Living without electricity makes you feel like a caveman. It has become a basic necessity, and our daily tasks function around electricity. Nowadays, ever-evolving modern technology such as electronic gadgets and appliances require electricity. Unfortunately, electricity isn’t free, and it’s not inexpensive. If your budget is kind of tight, you’ve been trying out ways on how to lessen your energy consumption and lower your electricity bill.
When you consume energy, your electricity bill also spikes. But if you’re considering using less energy and lowering your electricity bill, you need to change your behavior towards your energy usage and be smart in using electricity in your home. In this way, you use less energy, resulting in lower energy consumption costs, and save you a lot of money.
In this article, we’ll give you effective money-saving tips to lower your energy bills, and save your money on expenses.
Tips for lowering your electricity bill
Adjust your thermostat
One of the biggest contributors to our electric bill is heating and cooling systems. You can lessen the energy you use and lower your electricity bill by fighting off the desire to crank up the heat or turn down the temperature because of changing weather conditions. But resisting the urge to nudge the thermostat isn’t enough. You should consider installing and using a programmable thermostat. Using this device, you can program the thermostat at a specific time without changing it manually. This allows you to make your heating and cooling systems to be more energy-efficient, and bypass some of the expenses of heating and cooling. Setting your thermostat lower when you’re away from or when you’re asleep.
Insulate your home
Insulation is important for your home so that it can maintain its temperature and its environment. It is important to inspect your house’s windows and doors for any leaks, openings, and broken seals. A tiny hole or opening, leak, or a broken seal can affect the overall feel of your home. You can repair and replace broken seals, openings, and leaks in your windows and doors by caulking. By doing this, the temperature and environment inside your home will feel better.
Wear comfortable clothing depending on the condition
Instead of cranking up your thermostat or turning it down, keep yourself comfortable by wearing appropriate clothes depending on the temperature. When you’re inside your home in the winter, don’t hesitate to put more clothes or wear short-sleeved shirts and shorts in the summer. By doing this, you can manage how you feel without the use of electricity-hungry appliances to maintain the temperature and make you feel comfortable without the worry of your electric bill going up.
Clean and replace your air filter
The air filter is used to catch dust, pollen, lint and circulate the air all around the heating and cooling system. Replacing the air filter in your HVAC system keeps it in working condition and keeps it to be energy-efficient. Replacing air filters ensures that your HVAC system is functioning at full potential, saving energy and the lesser amount you have to pay for your electricity bill.
Reduce the temperature on your water heating systems
Just like heating and cooling systems, water heating systems are one of the biggest contributors to your energy consumption expenses. If you’re considering reducing your hot water usage without purchasing a new water heating system, you can just lower the temperature of your water heater, use less hot water, insulate your water heater, or just reduce the use of your water heater.
However, if you’re going to remove your conventional water heater and install a more energy-efficient water heater, you should consider what kind and type of water heating systems that meet your family’s needs, and what kind of heating element does the water heater use. Obviously, the energy-efficient water heater is better than the traditional water heater because not only do you save energy, you’ll also save a lot of money in the long run.
Replace your light bulbs
The standard incandescent light bulbs are very energy-hungry light bulbs and use more energy and cause your electricity bill to go up as well. With that being said, there are more energy-efficient substitutes in comparison to installing incandescent light bulbs. Light-emitting diode bulbs or LED bulbs and fluorescent light bulbs consume less energy by 20%-50% and a longer lifespan than traditional incandescent light bulbs.
When you buy energy-efficient light bulbs such as LED and fluorescent bulbs, they might be quite pricey. But, LED and fluorescent light bulbs use less energy and last longer, which means you don’t replace them as much as often.
Buy energy-efficient appliances
If you’re going to change an appliance with a more energy-efficient appliance, you should buy an appliance with the ENERGY STAR label. The ENERGY STAR label ensures that the appliance you’re purchasing is legitimately energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, without giving up the quality, features, performance, and function. These appliances may cost more than your old appliances, but they’ll last longer and you’ll save up money on your electricity bill.
Conducting an energy audit
Energy companies, providers, and utility providers offer free energy audits to check your home for any issues that interfere with the cost of your electricity bill. People from those companies can also help you by giving you tips and advice and deciding on what changes you should do to help you lower your electric bill.
Electricity costs aren’t cheap, and somehow it is possible to reduce the usage of energy by simply turning off lights, electronic gadgets, and appliances when they’re not in use. Not only you’ll be saving money and conserving energy, but you’ll also save the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
If you’re looking for more tips and ways on how to save money and lower your electric bill, an article by Payless Power has lots of information about reducing energy usage and lowering electric bills.
