Looking for ways to cut back and save money on your household budget? Want to avoid the terrible ‘bill shock’ when your electricity bill arrives? Are you exploring ways on how to save money on electric bills?
It can be confusing and hard to know where to start when it comes to saving money on electricity. Don’t worry, we’re here to help!
Keep reading to explore ways on how to save money on electric bills:
9 Practical Energy Saving Tips
When it comes to saving money on your electricity bills, every little bit helps. Try these simple yet effective ways to save money on electricity. They’re very practical tips that anyone can benefit from.
Unplug your appliances when not in use
This energy saving tip might appear obvious, but it’s easy to overlook.
Unplug electronic appliances or use a power strip to avoid “vampire” loads for items such as DVD players, TVs, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances.
Unplug your battery chargers when you’re not using them. You can use a programmable thermostat that sets the times you turn on the appliances according to your schedule.
Avoid using hot water in your washer
Most of the energy your washer uses is to just heat water for the wash. So, stick to warm or cold water in the washer to conserve energy usage.
If you have to use hot water in your washer, set the water level at the minimum and then use a cold water rinse. Also, wait until you’ve a full load before doing a wash.
Turn the lights off when not in use
The cheapest way to save energy is to turn the lights off when they’re not in use. Get everyone in your home into the habit of turning the lights off when they come out of the room.
If it’s sunny outside, it’s good to let some natural sunlight inside! So, turn off the lights and open your curtains!
Clean your air conditioning unit regularly
Air conditioners require regular maintenance to function efficiently and effectively throughout the years.
Neglecting air conditioning unit maintenance leads to a steady decline in its performance while increasing energy use.
Every air conditioning unit has a filter that is used to keep pollutants, like dust and dirt, from being recycled in the air throughout your home.
Regularly cleaning your air conditioning unit and replacing its filters regularly can help lower its energy consumption.
Use smart plugs and bulbs
Smart plugs generally use far less energy than other plugs. They use just about 1-2 watts of power.
So, you’ll save money over time by using smart plugs. Smart plugs allow you to switch on or off your appliances remotely.
You can set up the smart plug to work on an automatic timer. Smart plugs constantly monitor your energy usage and can give you a better insight into how much power your appliances are using.
To ensure you’re saving maximum money, make sure the smart plug is set up correctly and they switch off and on at the correct time.
Smart bulbs are LEDs that are highly efficient and use much less energy than traditional bulbs. They don’t require a lot of energy compared to other types of lights.
Use LED light bulbs
LED bulbs are an outstanding step to take when trying to save money on electric bills.
They not only use less energy but are also better for the environment. Swap out your light bulbs with low-energy LED light bulbs to save energy.
LED light bulbs use approximately 25-80% less energy than your traditional light bulb, and they last a lot longer!
Use a dishwasher but air dry them
Allow your dishes to air dry after running your dishwasher. This can save about 15 to 50 percent of your dishwasher’s operational cost.
If your dishwasher model doesn’t offer this option, consider stopping your dishwasher before the dry cycle starts.
Just opening the dishwasher door and letting your dishes air dry on their own consumes no power. Remember to only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
Keep your dryer clean and empty the lint trap
Clothes dryers are among the biggest electricity users in the home. If the lint screen is clogged with a heavy layer of lint, your dryer must work harder to perform its task, thus pushing your electricity bills up.
To ensure efficient drying, remove debris from your lint trap after each load. Cleaning the dryer lint trap leads to efficient operation by allowing more air to flow out of the exhaust vent.
Also, on sunny days, you can dry your clothes outside rather than having to rely on your dryer.
Opt for energy efficient appliances when making a purchase
Energy-efficient home appliances help in saving money by reducing your electricity bills. The more energy-efficient appliances you use, the lower your electricity bills will be.
If you’re shopping for a new washing machine, water heater, or dishwasher, always buy energy-efficient appliances to yield long-term savings.
Conclusion
Each of these money saving tips might not seem like much on their own, but the cost savings can really add up.
Any amount of savings on electricity costs each month simply means more money in your wallet.