Using electricity in any form can come with costs. It costs in higher energy bills, and it can have environmental costs as well.
When you are more conscious about how you use—and don’t use—electricity, you can save on your monthly electricity bill while gaining peace of mind that you’re doing something good for the environment.
To start reducing your electricity use so you can enjoy cheaper energy bills, make these tips your new habits.
1. Set Your Refrigerator & Freezer
Your refrigerator uses about 13.7% of your total house energy. To save energy at home, you can set your fridge to 37 degrees Fahrenheit and freezer to 3 degrees Fahrenheit. This method will consume less electricity (specifically, fewer kilowatt-hours).
2. Replace and Clean Air Filters
Your heaters and air conditioners use the most energy in your home and make a huge contribution to your electricity. They use more electricity and don’t work efficiently when they are full of dirt.
A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool–wasting energy. Sign-up for a filter change reminder program that works for you!
FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE of your heating & cooling system or HVAC system, change your home air filter at least every 90 days.
3. Install a Thermostat
Thermostats are economically friendly and will save you up to 15% on your electricity bill. Program the thermostat to cool or heat to more cost-friendly temperature settings to conserve energy at your home.
The Nest Learning Thermostat is easy to install and the first thermostat to get ENERGY STAR certified. It learns what temperature you like and builds a schedule around yours. And independent studies showed that it saved people an average of 10% to 12% on heating bills and 15% on cooling bills. So in under two years, it can pay for itself.
4. Do Laundry More Efficiently
Laundry uses a lot of your electricity, so find ways to use it efficiently, and you will save a lot of electricity after that. You can try tips like using the dry sensor feature on the dryer and clean the lint trap between drying cycles.
5. Use Ceiling Fans
Try using ceiling fans when you are living in a hot temperature. Before touching your thermostat, turn on your ceiling fan. Using these fans will make you feel like 10 degrees cooler than normal fans. Plus it will save your energy too!
Ceiling fans can be affordable and actually pretty easy to install. They only take 1-2 hours to install, and can replace an existing light fixture in a living room, dining room, bedroom, lounge and study room.
6. Install Solar Panels
Solar panels are a safe and alternative way to gas and electricity. It is almost free and less costly, and good for the environment.
7. Replace your curtains
The US Department of Energy says you can save around 10% by using just blinds and up to 25% by using thermal curtains to either keep the heat out or in depending on the season.
Generally speaking, the thicker the curtains, the more effective they are as an insulator. Here are some great ready made curtains available in many colors and patterns.
Save even more money every month by switching your energy plan. Discover the Cheapest electricity plans available in your area HERE
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The Bottom Line
These are the tips that can help save energy in your house, and saving your energy means it will cost less money. So try using these tips regularly and make them your habit if you want to save money monthly on your electricity bill and protect your environment too as an outcome!
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