It’s the time of the month you dread each time. You head outside to check your mail, and you’re slapped with another energy bill. No matter how many times you pay it, you’re always sent a new one.
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about this. As long as you need and use air conditioning, heating, and electricity in your home, you’ll need to pay an energy bill. There are ways to save on energy bill costs, however.
In this guide below, you’ll learn how to save money on your energy bills. Are you ready to stop wasting and start saving? Continue reading below to find out more!
1. Compare Energy Suppliers
Your first step should be to start comparing different energy suppliers or electric companies. Not all companies charge the same rate for the amount of energy used. See which suppliers are available in your area.
Get rates or estimates from each one. Choose the one with the lowest rate and make the switch. Even if the difference is small, it could make a big difference over time.
2. Install Solar Panels
You might have seen open fields filled with blue panels on silver frames. You might have even seen them on houses in your neighborhood. More and more people and companies are installing solar panels to help save on energy costs.
Not only will installing solar panels reduce your energy costs, but they’ll also make you eligible for a tax credit when filing taxes. Solar panels use the sun’s energy to power your home.
Be sure to contact your local solar company to see how you can start installing solar panels on your home. If your home’s roof is unable to support the panels, then they can be installed on the ground instead.
3. Use Energy-Saving Appliances
If you’re able to, then you’ll want to switch out all your current appliances for new appliances with energy-saving qualities. Energy-saving appliances use less energy when running. You can find dishwashers, microwaves, refrigerators, washers and dryers, and other appliances in an energy-saving option.
Because switching out all appliances at once can be quite unrealistic, what you can do is switch them out one at a time over time. If an appliance breaks down, then be sure to buy an energy-saving one in its place.
4. Seal Leaks Allowing Drafts
When’s the last time you check your entire home for drafts? A small draft can either let in cold and hot air or let cold and hot air out. If there’s a draft in your home, it can make it difficult for your air conditioning to keep your home at the temperature you set the thermostat at.
When this happens, your air conditioning unit is working double to maintain the temperature in the home, which means it’s using more energy. Be sure to check all windows and doors in the home for signs of a draft.
Make repairs as needed.
5. Control Your Thermostat
Controlling your thermostat is a good way to ensure you’re not using AC or heating when you don’t need it. Each time you leave your house set the thermostat either up or down depending on the temperature outside. The goal is to have your AC or heating unit take a break while you’re away.
You can also consider turning on a fan when it’s hot outside and raising the thermostat temperature a few degrees. A fan won’t make the temperature in the room cooler, but it’ll help you feel cooler and use less energy than the air conditioning unit.
6. Don’t Leave Plugs in Outlets
It’s a common habit for people to plug electronics into the wall and leave them plugged in. Although you might not be using the electronic devices, they’re still using energy as long as they’re plugged into the wall. When possible, remove all plugs from the outlets in your home.
Unplugging these items will help you save money in the long run. If you have many electronics plugged into your home’s outlets, then you might even see a decent amount of savings on your next billing cycle.
7. Install Proper Insulation
Installing proper insulation in your home is a great way to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. If your home has a loft or attic space, then you want to make sure that this area is insulated as well. The same is true for your basement.
When the entire home is insulated properly, the air conditioning unit won’t have to work as hard.
8. Cut Back Where Possible
There are several areas around the home where you can make a few cutbacks to save on energy. For example, you can switch out all your current light bulbs for energy-saving ones. You can also save water and energy when using your washer machine by washing laundry loads in a cold, short-cycle setting.
When you leave a room, shut the lights off. Make sure all lights are shut off when you leave your home. When it’s winter, you should wear more layers while inside and keep your thermostat lower.
During the summer, you should wear cooler clothes and put your thermostat up higher than you’d normally place it. There’s no need to have your thermostat set on a low setting and be cold in your home wearing thick layers when it’s hot outside.
9. Purchase a Smart Meter
A smart meter or an energy monitor will help you keep track of your energy spending. This is a great tool to show you what you’re using the most energy on. You’ll also know exactly how much energy or gas is being used in total.
Once you know what appliances or areas in the home are using the most energy, you can then cut back in these areas to help reduce your bill.
10. Don’t Use as Much Hot Water
When you use hot water, you use energy to heat the hot water tank. The more hot water you use, the more energy you’ll use to fill the tank back up with more hot water. You can reduce these costs by using less hot water.
Washing laundry on cold settings, and taking warm showers instead of hot ones are two great ways to cut costs. You can also consider lowering the temperature on the hot water heat so it won’t have to get as hot.
How Will You Save on Energy Bill Costs?
Are you tired of paying high prices for your home’s energy? Don’t dread opening your energy bill. Start saving on your energy bill today by following this guide.
These are some of the best ways to save money on energy bills. How will you save on energy bill costs this year?
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