Let’s face it—these days, our electric bills are feeling a little wild all year long. The washer, the dryer, the fridge, the dishwasher, the soothing salt lamp, all our plugged-in devices . . . we’re using lots of energy.
Don’t worry. With this list of tips, you’ll learn how to save on your electric bill so you can stay comfortable in your home—and with your wallet.
Heating and cooling
1. Conduct an energy audit.
If at all possible, have a professional visit first. Utility companies frequently perform an energy audit of your home, sometimes gratis, and can find strategies to lower your energy consumption. An audit can assist you in determining, among other things, whether inadequate window and door seals or leaking ductwork are causing your home to lose energy. Additionally, you’ll receive suggestions for effective fittings and repairs. For information on how to schedule an audit, speak with your local electricity provider.
2. Give your thermostat a nudge
This one is easy. To save money, set your thermostat down or up 7 to 10 degrees (depending on the season) when you’re asleep or away from home. Doing so for eight hours can lower your annual heating and cooling costs by around 10%. A programmable thermostat does the work for you.
3. Adjust your fridge and freezer temperature
Set your fridge to 37 degrees and your freezer to 0 degrees. This will keep your food fresh, but your fridge and freezer won’t need to work as hard to maintain the temperature.
Water
4. Take shorter showers
Standard showerheads go through 2.5 gallons of water a minute, according to manufacturer Waterpik. That means trimming just two minutes off your shower time could save 5 gallons of water. Taking a shorter shower will reduce the energy used to heat the water too.
5. Replace your showerhead
An efficient showerhead — that uses no more than 2 gallons per minute — can reduce household water usage by 2,700 gallons per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for one with the WaterSense label, which is certified to meet efficiency criteria set by the EPA.
5. Wash clothes in warm or cold water
Stick to warm or cold water when you do laundry to lower your electric bill. Doing so can also help prevent clothes from shrinking, fading and wrinkling, according to GE Appliances. That’s a win-win.
6. Adjust the temperature on your water heater
The default temperature setting on some water heaters is 140 degrees. Lowering it to 120 degrees can reduce your energy costs by 4%-22% annually.
7. Purchase energy-efficient appliances
If you’re in the market for a new washer, dishwasher or water heater, buy an energy-efficient model to yield long-term savings. A dishwasher with the EPA’s Energy Star label uses 12% less energy and 30% less water on average than a regular model. Prioritize appliances that run most often, like the fridge, dishwasher, TV, washer and dryer.
Power and lighting
8. Change your light bulbs.
Buying more energy-efficient bulbs will cost a bit more up front, but you’ll be saving money each month in no time.
A typical Energy Star-certified LED light bulb saves households around $225 in energy per year. Most LED lights use up to 90% less energy than those old incandescent lights (which are actually banned now!) and last up to 25 times longer! Worth. It.
9. Install dimmer switches
Dimmers let you set the brightness in a room to suit your needs, setting the mood and saving electricity.
10. Use smart power strips
Some electronic gadgets — such as TVs, computers and speakers — never truly power off. Instead, they sit in standby mode using a trickle of power that can account for 5%-10% of home energy use and $100 a year. Plug these electronics into a smart power strip, which cuts off the current when the devices aren’t in use. A power strip with a manual on/off switch is another good option.
Try a few of these tips to start, and monitor your electric bill for savings in the months ahead. Work up to more changes to compound what you save in energy and money.
