We arrived at a moment where electricity prices are steady, which means getting lower energy bills is achievable. Officially, the days of heat, beaches & vacations – summer – are gone; as sorry as we are to see it happen, we are looking forward to lovely and cozy autumn. That is not bad news at all, though.
With the colder months of the year coming ahead and the days being shorter and shorter, we are not using our HVAC as much as before, making it a great time to get lower energy bills by making minor changes to your home before freezing times attack – and saving some cash while doing so…
How to get lower energy bills?
You probably had an awakening regarding energy costs when you moved out and began paying your own power bills by yourself, didn’t you? It might’ve taken a minute for you to become used not just to switch off the lights when you leave a room but also to unplug all the other gadgets in your home.
If you want lower energy bills, there are some things you can do concerning energy-efficient equipment, solar panels, or energy-conserving outlets. However, these options can be expensive over time. So, what to do?
- 1. Fix your air conditioning and heating systems
- 2. Seal cracks and holes around your place
- 3. Reduce the usage of heated water
- 4. Wash full loads only – everywhere, regardless of if it’s dishwasher or laundry machine
- 5. Turn off – and disconnect – the electric appliances you’re not using
- 6. Switch to a fixed electricity rate
- 7. Monitor your energy consumption
1. Fix your air conditioning and heating systems
Try performing some little maintenance to your HVAC systems now that you’re giving them a break. Make sure you replace your filters. Like dust, air filters can often contribute to the breakdown of air conditioning and heating systems. Even if not, an unaltered air filter will make it hard or longer for the air conditioner or dryer to function and – you are right – consume more power.
You will also want to check your ducts if you wish to lower energy bills while heating and refrigerating your home. According to the US Energy Department (DOE), your air ducts are one of the main systems in your house and they may cost you a lot of money owing to wasteful energy if they are not adequately isolated and operative. If you leak your ducts, you might waste money on heating your house or cool portions you don’t need.
Photo by Chromatograph on Unsplash
2. Seal cracks and holes around your place
The severe outdoor temperature cold might jeopardize the comfort in the winter months. This can have various causes, but inadequate isolation is one of the most common ones. If you want to have lower energy bills, you should look at the cracks under the windows and doors and how it all works. Having proper insulation means that your home will have protection that can regulate your home’s temperature throughout the winter and summer.
And thanks to these capabilities, isolation saves you money and energy. To minimizing the heating demand and getting to lower energy bills, it is necessary to inspect the insulation in your house, from your walls into your tubes. If you live in a zone with crazy low temperatures, you may even pick up additional insulation around pipes to stop your heater from working so hard and prevent the pipes from freezing.
We have an entire article where you can find out how to save electricity in summer if you want to check it out. Trust us, getting lower energy bills is possible.
3. Reduce the usage of heated water
You’re already doing something to get lower energy bills when you wash your garments in the cold setting. In fact, the US Department of Energy claims that hot water may decrease the energy consumption of a load by half. If you are concerned about how clean your clothes will (or will not) be washed using cold water, specific detergents are available to help.
The same happens when you take a shower with lukewarm water. This is great not only for your skin but also for the environment and your pocket. The water heater comes close to the expense of heating and refrigeration in the home. This is the device that supplies hot water to washing machines, dishwashers, sinks, and showers. Some of the costs come from the heater itself, which has a warm water storage facility in a tank. And you can lower them by insulating them properly.
Tankless heaters are available, although most of them are fitted with a tank inside. You may shave some money off your power bill by decreasing the temperature a few degrees – the optimum one is 120 degrees Fahrenheit -. If you go on holiday or spend a long time away from home, switch off the water heater while you are away, this will help you with lower energy bills.
4. Wash full loads only – everywhere, regardless of if it’s dishwasher or laundry machine
This self-explanatory one comes together with the previous one and our list of things you can do to save money while doing laundry. Don’t be like those who run the dishwasher every day (or night), whether or not it’s complete. Run it just when it’s full instead.
5. Turn off – and disconnect – the electric appliances you’re not using
Did you ever heard that computers last longer when you never turn them off? Well that’s a misconception. Check out the following instructions by the US Department of Energy, on how to give a better use – energy-wise – to our electronic equipment:
- Turn off the monitor if you aren’t going to use your PC for more than 20 minutes.
- Turn off both the CPU and monitor if you’re not going to use your PC for more than 2 hours.
- Make sure your monitors, printers, and other accessories are on a power strip/surge protector. When this equipment is not in use for extended periods, turn off the switch on the power strip to prevent them from drawing power even when shut off. If you don’t use a power strip, unplug extra equipment when it’s not in use.
- Screen savers are not energy savers. Using a screen saver may in fact use more energy than not using one.
These tips will help you to get lower energy bills, and to have products that last longer.
6. Switch to a fixed electricity rate
If you’re thinking about changing energy suppliers, this is the best time to do it. Think about it this way: Summer and winter are the seasons with the highest energy demand; if the demand is higher, the prices will go up to respond to that market situation. So when the prices are low, it’s the best time to lock in those fixed rates and get lower energy bills.
When the temperature dips below zero, you switch on your heating systems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And the more energy you spend, the greater your costs. And more electricity you consume. To guarantee that you receive the best price before the more lengthy and colder evening comes, you have the optimum time to compare energy rates, get great deals & switch energy providers at the end of the summer or early fall, and lock in an excellent electricity rate.
Don’t worry if you still don’t know the difference between a fixed or a variable rate; we have an entire article about it. Also, make sure to check out our article to understand & get the lowest electricity rates out there.
7. Monitor your energy consumption
And last but not least, if you keep an eye on your consumption levels, you can decide whether and when you need to adjust how you consume energy. The Smart Meter installation allows you to track your usage with precise, real-time data.
Once you monitor your consumption, you can start creating some strategies to use it more wisely. Strategically using appliances may be highly beneficial when we try to lower energy bills. This is visible in many scenarios as it is possible to gamble anything from the dishwasher to the washing machine to minimize its costs.
One example is the successive drying of clothes loads instead of the delay between loads, thereby minimizing energy usage because the unit is warmer longer. Strategies might vary, mainly because of your present habit in consuming, but making use of them intelligently is a sure-fire approach to put your pocket back.
Check out our blog if you want to understand how you can lower your energy bills. We offer you all the information about energy deregulation to ensure that you have a seamless switch with no service, product, or quality change when it’s the best for you! If you switch to deregulated energy, you will have complete control over your monthly expenses.
Go On, Be Powerful!
Reach us through our website powerchoicenow.com, or call us now at 833-762-0555. One of our Power Choice Now experts will be happy to answer all your questions!
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