Want a lower electric bill? Let me help! As a green living writer, I often talk here about reducing our carbon footprint. Well, reducing one’s carbon footprint tends to result in a lower electric bill too! With a few small changes we can easily reduce wasted electricity. And the changes you make will add up quickly. Not only will you help the planet, but you’ll also keep money in your wallet!
50 Ways to Get a Lower Electric Bill Fast!
Are you ready for a lower electric bill? Here are 50 easy steps you can take to make that happen:
1. Set your computer’s monitor to power off rather than go to a screen saver. Making this one change can reduce the amount of energy needed to run your pc.
2. Get books from the library instead of those that need to be read online.
3. If you are self-employed, consider working in a public setting (such as a coffee shop) every so often. That electricity is running anyway!
4. Don’t charge your phones overnight. Charge your phones at a time when you can unplug them when the charge reaches 100%.
5. Keep your home a few degrees cooler in winter and warm up by wearing an extra layer of clothes instead.
6. When cooking or baking, do so in batches so the oven gets used more efficiently. The oven is already on, so why not make tomorrow night’s dinner too?
7. Use your home’s natural light in the daytime rather than turning on the lights. Especially during the winter months when that natural light may also bring in the heat.
8. If you can’t keep the lights off completely, utilize dimmer switches to avoid wasting energy.
9. Turn down the water heater. Taking your standard water heater down could save the energy used to heating the water.
10. Keep an eye on your thermostat too. Try to set it a little bit higher in the summer.
11. If possible, switch to a “smart” thermostat. Our Nest thermostat has lowered our energy usage and reduced our bills by about $250 a year.
12. Speaking of windows, keep windows and doors closed as tightly as possible. Insulate or replace drafty windows to prevent air from both entering and escaping the room.
13. Unplug appliances when they’re not in use. Plugged in appliances still utilize a great deal of electricity even when you aren’t using them.
14. Purchase energy-efficient appliances. Look for items with the Energy Star label, which use substantially less energy in the long run and save you money as well.
15. Keep hot air from rising by turning ceiling fans clockwise in the winter to redirect air toward the living space, making the most of the warm air in the house. Don’t forget to switch the fan so that it is running counter-clockwise in the summer months.
16. Take a peak in the attic and basement to see if they can be better insulated. Insulation can greatly help to regulate your home’s temperature, meaning that you will use less electricity to heat your home in winter and cool it in summer.
17. Consider installing a solar roof. Not only will you save on energy use and lower your electricity bill, but the government now offers a tax credit to homeowners for installing panels on their homes.
18. Keep the refrigerator full. Believe it or not, your fridge uses more energy to stay cool when there are fewer items in it. If it’s getting near time to head to the supermarket, put a few glass bottles of water in the fridge to keep it more full.
19. Turn off the oven a few minutes before your meal or dessert is ready. This will allow the food to continue cooking while also saving energy. This little trick works with the stove too.
20. When making smaller meals, use your toaster oven instead of the conventional oven. With less space to heat up, toaster ovens use less energy.
21. Use a pressure cooker, which can use significantly less energy than a conventional oven.
22. Insulate your water heater. Putting a “blanket” over your heater (not the kind of blanket you sleep with) can be a big energy saver.
23. Make sure that your fridge and heating unit receive regular maintenance checks to make sure that they are running efficiently.
24. Just like the showerhead, you can install a low-flow water restrictor. Reducing the amount of water used will avoid unnecessary heating costs.
25. If you thaw frozen food before cooking it, you will save energy needed for cooking.
26. Make sure to change your air filters regularly so that your heating units and make your air conditioning
27. Always wash a full load of dishes. Running a partial load is a huge waste of water and electricity.
28. Install a low-flow showered to save money on heating your shower water. You can also take colder showers. Did you know that cold showers are healthy for you?
29. Clean out the lint from your dryer. Built up lint in the dryer translates to more electricity needed to get your clothes dry. I do this in the middle and at the end of every load.
30. Most washing machines do just as good of a job getting clothes clean in cold water, and cold water uses significantly less energy.
31. Always wash a full load of laundry instead of several smaller loads. A tremendous amount of water and energy is wasted when washing a partial load.
32. When working at home on your laptop, unplug it from the wall. Let it run on the battery so you can conserve energy use.
33. Take advantage of energy saving apps that can keep track of how much energy you use so you can get a better idea of where you can reduce and save.
34. Utilize your wood-burning fireplace during wintertime!
35. Close your chimney flue when you aren’t using your fireplace, but make sure to open it back up when you light a fire.
36. Buy LED holiday lights. They will last longer and use less electricity, saving your money that can be put towards presents!
37. At Christmas time, decorate your home and tree without lights or using minimal lighting.
38. If you do have holiday lights, make sure they turn on only after dusk rather than keeping them on during daylight hours. You may also want to set a timer so that they shut off after the hours when most onlookers would see them.
39. Instead of running the dishwasher on the heat dry setting, try air-drying or hand-drying your dishes instead.
40. Adding insulation to your garage door will keep both heat and cool air inside when the door is closed.
41. Make an effort to eat more sandwiches, salads, and other cold or room temperature foods.
42. This one was a surprise to me. When major appliances are situated next to each other it can significantly increase the amount of energy used. Consider separating your appliances.
43. Insulate your windows, or better yet, install energy efficient windows. You may hear less outside noise too.
44. When you cook, keep the lids on the pots and pans to reduce escaping heat that can increase cooking time.
45. Install outdoor solar lighting. One of the best backyard energy saving tips is to use the sun! Sunlight is free, so let the sun’s rays light up your yard all day long.
46. Create shade. Window awnings can significantly reduce solar heat, so install awnings to help keep the sun’s rays at bay.
47. Install a roof overhang, which works best as a summer energy conservation option if it helps shade South-facing windows.
48. If you have a pool, be sure you have an energy-efficient pool pump. Using a smaller, higher efficiency pump and operating it less frequently can help lower pool energy costs. Installing a timer can also help control an energy-efficient pool pump’s cycling.
49. Watch the water temperature in your pool. Turn down the temperature or turn the heater off when the pool is not in use. Also use a pool cover when the pool is not in use.
50. Get outside! Simply spending more of your day outdoors and unplugged can help limit your energy usage. Put down the screens and play!
You see, the common theme here is simple. Stop wasting electricity and you’ll lower your carbon footprint and keep more dollars in your pocket. All it takes to have a lower electric bill is a little bit of effort in paying attention to figure out where you can reduce waste!
Do you take any of these steps already? Have they resulted in a lower electric bill? If you have any more great tips to add, please leave them in the comments below.
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