Energy Bill on a Budget: Our Best Money-Saving Tips
Are you tired of arriving at the end of the month with an incredibly high energy bill? It can be daunting to try to stick to a budget when you don’t know how much you will be paying in utilities each month. Check out these easy energy-saving tips and tools to help you save energy and lower down the costs of your energy bill. The majority of these suggestions are simple enough for anyone to implement in their own home.
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Let's look at how you can save on your energy bill with lighting and appliances
Turn on the lights and learn!
If you could light your home with the same amount of brightness for less money, Wouldn’t you give it a try? According to the US Department of Energy, energy-efficient light bulbs can last 3 to 25 times longer and use 25% to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. You can help reduce fossil fuel consumption by switching to more energy-efficient light bulbs (while saving money on your energy bill). Check out these lighting tips, to make small changes in your home that can add up to big savings.
Light bulbs
Making a few simple adjustments to how you light your home can considerably increase your home’s energy efficiency and lower your home energy bill.
Replace incandescent light bulbs and compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) with LED bulbs, which use less energy and last much longer. Kitchen fixtures and lights are left on for more than two hours per day; remember to turn off lights when leaving the kitchen or any other room. If you forget to turn off the lights, use motion sensor lights with a timer or photocell that will turn on at dusk and off at dawn.
Full room lights are less effective than individual lamps for providing the light you need. You’ll also pay more on your energy bill if you keep lights on when nobody’s using them. Click here to find more tips on how to be more energy-efficient during your home office.
LED strips
Install LED strip lights in your bedroom—you can choose different colors to state your mood and decorate your space while also saving energy. LED strip lights are also ideal for outdoor use; you can consider adding lighting to a garden or along a sidewalk to increase visibility.
Be smarter with your appliances
Now that you’ve taken care of your lighting system, there’s another way to control your energy bill: look at your appliances as your new allies. Appliances consume a lot of energy and can quickly add up to your energy bill. Fortunately, you can reduce the amount of energy your appliances use by making a few simple changes.
Washing machines and dryers
Being more efficient with your washer and dryer routines is a simple way to live a more energy-efficient life. Apply a few of these laundry tips to your routine:
- Run larger loads of laundry instead of several smaller loads.
- When washing clothes, use cold water. Warm water can consume double the energy per load.
- To get the most out of the heat buildup, put two or more loads of laundry in the dryer back-to-back.
- Use the dryer’s moisture sensor to stop the cycle once your clothes are dry.
- Clean the lint tray after each dryer load
- In Summer, take advantage of the heat and line-dry your clothes.
Fridges and freezers
Replace older refrigerators with newer models it’s a lifesaving option. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, newer models can use up to 40% less energy than older models. Here are some simple tips that will help you reduce your energy bill consumption:
- Remember to cover all liquids in the refrigerator because the moisture inside can cause the unit to use more energy.
- Avoid keeping your freezer in the garage. Higher temperatures cause the unit to work harder.
- Keep the fridge between 35º-38ºF and the freezer at 0ºF. Check the temperature constantly.
- Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight.
Stoves and ovens
Ovens and stoves, like the freezer, can use a lot of electricity to heat food. To keep heat contained, use the appropriate size pot on the burners and secure your pans with tight-fitting lids. Cooking indoors raises the temperature, requiring the AC to use more energy, so this summer, make a delicious bbq outside.
Dishwashers
Dishwashers rely on electricity to heat water and dry loads of dishes. Using these simple tips, you can make changes to your typical dish-washing routine to reduce the amount of water and heat you use.
- Wait until the dishwasher is completely full before starting the load.
- Avoid using the heat-dry option, which consumes more electricity.
- If you’re going to run the dishwasher soon, scrape your dishes instead of rinsing them. Rinsing them consumes a significant amount of water and energy.
- If you will take some time before the dishwasher is used, rinse the dishes to prevent food remnants from drying and sticking to the dishes.
Water heaters
A warm shower can be very expensive, so if you use these tips, your savings will rise quickly.
- If possible, buy an energy-efficient water heater to save energy.
- When your water heater is first installed, it is usually set to a higher temperature than is necessary. By lowering the temperature of your water heater, you can save energy.
- Install low-flow fixtures to consume less water per minute.
Control energy vampires
Another reason you can get a high energy bill is that you leave your appliances and/or electronics plugged in whether you’re using them or not. Follow these simple steps to stop being haunted by these unwanted creatures:
- If you’re not using it, unplug it!
- Try using power strips: they let you toggle the power flow allowing you to control the power usage.
- Power down your electronics, don’t leave them on standby mode.
- Try replacing your old appliances with energy-efficient ones
Isn’t it simple to save money on your energy bill?
Although some energy-saving tips include replacing old appliances with newer models, other, more cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption will not break your budget – they simply require more dedication. Overall, it will be worth the extra few steps to know you are helping to live a more energy-efficient life and save money. These appliance tips, as well as our other energy-saving tips, can make a difference in your energy bill.
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