There are many bills we have to pay, and many of them are largely out of our control. You can choose to subscribe to a streaming service, purchase an insurance policy or live in a specific home and pay the necessary rent or property tax. But these payments don’t often change month-to-month. Your electric bill is different. How much you pay changes from bill-to-bill because it depends on how much energy you use. Thankfully, there are things we can do to reduce how much we use without significantly affecting how we live our lives.
Paying for Electricity
Electric bills vary considerably depending on location, the energy source, the supplier and more. But for most Americans, it’s a considerable fraction of their expenditures. The average U.S. residential customer spends $136.84 on electricity each month. That’s a lot of money.
And businesses often spend even more. So, whether you live alone, with a family or you're a business owner, saving on electricity can yield serious savings.
7 Steps To Save on Electricity
Here are seven steps to reduce the amount you pay on your electric bill:
1. Examine Your Bill
Inspect your current electric bill, as it may have some answers. Maybe there’s an error and a simple call to your supplier can save you money. Or maybe you’ll notice a spike at certain times — perhaps whenever you use your dishwasher. This can lead you to make other decisions, such as when you operate your appliances.
2. Purchase Energy-Efficient Appliances
Old appliances are often quite inefficient. Dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, microwave ovens, television sets, washing machines and dryers all use quite a bit of energy, and manufacturers today make them much more efficient than older models. Many require significant investment to replace, but it’s worth considering your options. Over time, upgrading to more efficient appliances will pay off.
3. Use Your Appliances Efficiently
Whether or not you have energy-efficient appliances, you can save money by using them efficiently. For example, if you only use your dishwasher or washing machine only when you have a full load, you’ll use them less and save money. Similarly, you don’t need to use the dryer every time you do laundry; a clothes rack or clothesline often does the job just as well.
4. Consider Off-Peak Hour Use
Many energy suppliers charge different rates for when you use electricity. When demand is high, electricity costs more. Find out if your supplier charges more during periods of high demand, and if they do, try to use your appliances during off-peak times.
5. Turn it Off!
You don’t need to sit in the dark with all your appliances off, but how often do you leave something on when you’re not even using it? Is there a light on in the other room? Do you leave your computer on when you’re away from it? Getting into the habit of turning things off when you’re not using them is better for your wallet and the environment.
6. Switch to LED Lights
Next time a bulb burns out, replace it with an LED. LEDs are far more efficient and last much longer than incandescent bulbs or even compact fluorescents. They also look great; they’ve changed a lot since the early days of LEDs when they gave off a blueish hue. Now they give off a warm light, and because LEDs don’t get hot, they’re safer, too.
7. Mind the Temperature
Most people can stand to reduce air conditioner usage in summer and heater use in winter. It’s always cheaper to put on or take off a sweater. It may also be worth looking into upgrading your windows to ones that reduce thermal transfer, minimizing how much the outside temperature affects the inside. Furthermore, use of weatherstripping and caulking can cover up cracks and keep the heat out or in. Last, you may be able to reduce the temperature in your freezer a little, which can add up to notable savings over time.
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