How to Lower Your Electric Bills

You might have observed that as we get closer to summer and the temperatures start to increase, so does your power bill. You most definitely aren’t the only one either. Nearly 50% of your power cost can be attributed to air conditioning, and we are all too aware of how alluring it is to boost the Aircon during the sweltering summer. Additionally, if you live independently, you can have other people attempting to remain cool indoors all day long, which means higher AC consumption and plugged-in electronics.

As was already noted, the expense of the electricity needed to keep your house cool and pleasant may quickly pile up. Additionally, heating can have a significant influence on your expenditure during the colder months. But you also don’t want to be cooped up in your house shivering or perspiring. How then can you reduce high electricity costs without sacrificing comfort? To stop air leaks, try installing foam gaskets beneath leaky outlets and switch plates is beneficial. With foam sealant, you might want to close up any significant gaps around your baseboards. Finally, you may improve leak resistance by caulking gaps around the furnace and water heater vents using heat materials like sheetrock, cement caulk, or sheet metal. It should be obvious saying that you must maintain a cool refrigerator. However, if you keep it adjusted to a temperature lower than is necessary, you risk paying more for electricity without receiving any further benefits for food safety. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises keeping your refrigerator at a temperature between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

The quality of the air inside your home is impacted, and your HVAC system has a harder time operating effectively, increasing your energy costs. You keep your costs low and your HVAC system in good operating order, be sure to change your air filter each month. All of your interior doors and air vents should be kept open to ensure appropriate air circulation throughout your house. This reduces the stress on your HVAC system and lowers your power cost, just like in the previous advice. The quality of the air inside your home is impacted, and your HVAC system has a harder time operating effectively, increasing your energy costs. You keep your costs low and your Ventilation systems in good operating order, be sure to change your air filter each month. All of your interior doors and air vents should be kept open to ensure appropriate air circulation throughout your house. This reduces the stress on your Heating system and lowers your power cost, just like in the previous advice. 

Saving water is much simpler than you would imagine! Wash the clothes in hot or lukewarm water instead, unless you have to wash a specific item of clothing in hot water for whatever reason. 90% of the energy used by your washing machine is used to heat the water, according to EnergyStar.gov. The showerhead that was already placed in your house may not have been the most energy-efficient choice, which may surprise you. A low showerhead could be a good substitute. You may still have a vigorous shower with less water consumption thanks to the variety of alternatives available on the market. Poor flow does not always imply low water pressure. It could be worth a try to reset your water heater if you’re experiencing problems with heated air in your house. This may ensure that it is operating well, therefore minimizing your bill and maintaining the security of your house. A smart method to ensure you are getting the most energy efficiency out of your house is to replace any equipment that are over its expiration dates. As you presumably already know, turning off lights when you leave the room helps conserve energy. However, you may continue to reduce your use of lights and power after that.

There are more alternatives than ever, so you’re likely to discover one that fits you. Energy-efficient light bulb types have a poor reputation for not staying bright enough throughout the years. A smart plug is an excellent way to get started with the smart device trend even if you aren’t quite ready to commit entirely. With smart plugs, you can schedule wired equipment to only turn on at specific times of the day, saving money and power. For example, you may use smart sensors with your lights to only turn them on at particular times of the day. Despite the eerie name “phantom electricity,” it’s fairly typical for your home to experience this kind of energy loss. When you keep equipment, chargers, and other gadgets connected when not in use, you utilize phantom power. They continue to use your electricity and add to your cost even while you aren’t utilizing them.

Here are some of our favorite gadgets that will help you save on utility bills and help conserve energy!

  1. Smart Thermostat – The smart thermostat is essential to saving energy! You may configure both home and away temperatures that change automatically depending on whether your mobile phone is present via location data, temperature thresholds suited for the season, and other parameters. A thermostat is an excellent option if you just have time to implement one change to your house that will increase its energy efficiency. The product we recommend is Amazon Smart Thermostat. 
  2. Smart Lights – LED lights outperform traditional incandescent bulbs in terms of efficiency, smarts or not. LED lights are a fantastic place to start if you wish to save a lot of money on your power bill. Nowadays, there are many accessible solutions available whether you’re ready to invest in smart lights.  Make sure the correct lights are on and off throughout the day by using a schedule. If you don’t require a schedule, you can still use the Alexa and Google Assistant connections to turn off the kitchen light you forgot to turn off from your smartphone or voice assistant from anywhere in your home or any place there is an internet connection. The product we recommend is Philips Hue Starter Kit.
  3. Smart Sprinklers – With spring rapidly approaching, taking care of your lawn is likely once again at the top of the priority list. When your lawn becomes thirsty, using intelligent sprinklers is one method to save water. With networking and management applications, you can plan watering and even have it happen automatically if it’s going to rain. Installing some smarts surrounding your lawn irrigation is a terrific approach to assist limit usage if water usage in your home has increased as a result of more people around during the day. The product we recommend is Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler.