How to Reduce Your Electricity Bill

How to Reduce Your Electricity Bill 

Electricity can be relatively expensive, especially during peak hours, so if you are looking to reduce your overall household expenses, your power bill is a great place to start. To accomplish this, there is no need to overhaul your entire home right away. Small, incremental improvements can seriously add up over time, bringing your bill back down to a more reasonable level. Here are some helpful tips to get you started on how to reduce your electricity bill.

Upgrade Your Lighting

If you are still using incandescent or halogen light bulbs throughout your home, you are likely paying far more for electricity than you need to. Modern LED lights use just a fraction of the amount of energy that older bulb styles do, so making the switch can make a big difference almost immediately. Of course, it also helps to turn off all the lights as you leave a room to avoid wasting energy when rooms are not in use. 

Choose the Right Air Conditioner

In the interest of saving money, many people make the mistake of buying an air conditioning unit that is too small for their space. While you may save a bit upfront, you’ll end up paying more in the long run. This is because a small air conditioner will have to work harder and run for longer periods of time to cool larger spaces. An air conditioner that is large enough to handle the space will be far more efficient, helping you save on your electricity bills over time. 

Switch to New Appliances

Washing machines, refrigerators, hot water heaters and other appliances are some of the biggest energy consumers in modern homes, so you can potentially find a lot of savings in this area. If your appliance is more than 10 years old, it likely doesn’t meet modern standards for energy efficiency. Making the switch to a newer model will give you a machine that uses far less energy overall, bringing your bill down as well. 

Prevent Phantom Loads

When electronic devices are plugged in but not turned on, they still pull a small amount of electricity from the power grid, known as a phantom load. Think about all of the items in your home that use electricity, from appliances to phone chargers to lamps to televisions. If you combine the phantom loads from every item plugged into a powerpoint in your home, it can add up to a surprisingly large amount. Unplug anything that is not in use, only plugging it in when needed. You can also turn off the power at the wall. 

Look for More Ways to Save Energy

These are just a few of the myriad ways you can save energy in your home. As you watch your electricity bill drop, you’ll likely want to make even more changes so it’ll keep going down. The more effort you put into reducing your energy usage, the lower your bill will be, and the more money you’ll have available to do the things you love!