Electricity-Bill

8 Simple Ways of Lowering Your Electricity Bill at Home

Whether you are a homeowner or renting a home, you already know that bills take up a large part of your monthly expenses. There is a need to know how you can reduce the bills, especially if you want to save more money. To be specific, reducing your energy bills saves you a lot of money at home, increases energy security, and reduces your carbon footprint. There are many ways you consume electricity at home like heating and cooling, water heating, lighting, electronics, and appliances. If you are looking for ways to improve your energy efficiency, this article has your back. It will give you 8 simple ways of reducing electricity consumption at home.

Have a Plan

It is always important to have a plan on how electricity should be used at home. So, make sure you let everyone in the house know that you are on a mission to save energy. If you live in a place where electricity is deregulated, you can always shop for the units you want, and this will help you to save on your electricity bill. Look for the best plan and see if they are reasonable compared to what you are using now. If you want to always be on the safe side, avoid buying plans from dealers who are off the contract.

Turn Off Electronics and Appliances When Not in Use

People have a tendency of leaving appliances and electronics on even when they are not using them. The truth is, electronics like the TV, stereo, AC, and computer use a huge amount of electricity even when not in use. People who have outside TVs also tend to leave them on even when no one is watching. The truth is, that one minute that goes by when the TV is on consumes more energy. That light that stays on even when no one is in the room costs you a bit more every time. Therefore, you need to turn every appliance or electronic off when not in use. It could be a good idea to use a power strip that allows you to switch off devices at once. If you have a device that needs to stay on, make sure you set the power-saving mode.

Change your AC Filters

In most homes, the AC is the center of the huge energy bills. So, you must know how you will save the electricity you use on the system. Your Ac is an integral piece, especially if you live in areas that experience extreme temperatures. However, you need to know that the harder your AC strains to work, the more power it uses. Therefore, you need to reduce this burden by making sure the system is well-maintained. One way is maximizing the airflow by cleaning the filters. So, make sure you clean and change the filters on your AC regularly to make it easy for the system to filter the air getting in and out of your house.

Use Ceiling Fans

Even though this is not a choice for every homeowner who has an AC system, it is still an effective option for those who want to save on electricity. The good thing about ceiling fans is that they use less energy compared to the AC system. Fans are good for circulating cool or hot air, depending on the direction the fan is moving in. One point to note is that fans are used to cool the person using them but not the room. So, when not present, make sure you switch them off.

Choose a Smart Home

The popularity of smart homes continues to surprise many people and benefit many homeowners. A smart home has everything digital and modified to conserve electricity. For instance, some smart homes have thermostats that adjust themselves when not at home and track your electricity consumption. There are also smart bulbs that go dim or turn off when there is no movement in a room. So, it is wise enough to invest in a smart home if you intend to save on electricity.

Carry Out an Energy Audit

If you think you have already done enough and there is nothing more you can do to save electricity, then you are wrong. Carry out an energy audit to see where most of the electricity goes. The professionals will look at how you consume your electricity and make suggestions on how to save. They will also determine if there is air leakage or your house is properly insulated. So, on your mission to save electricity, carry out an energy audit and make the necessary suggestions.

Use Energy Star Appliances

According to EPA, energy star appliances consume less than 50% electricity compared to non-starred appliances. Therefore, energy star appliances are not just labeled for fun or with the aim of deceiving customers. They have been designed in a way that they need less power to operate. So, whenever you are buying appliances, always choose those with Energy Star tags.

Make Good Use of the Blinds

During hot seasons, the sun warms up your house and lets in heat through the windows. So, if you don’t want to come home to a hothouse, make sure you close the blinds during the day. This will help in keeping the heat out. During the winter season, keep the blinds up to let in warm air. This way, you will reduce the work your thermostat has to do in regulating the temperature.

The Takeaway!

These are simple ways of reducing your electricity consumption at home. Apart from having a plan, it is crucial to make sure that the simple things you do at home do not cost much on your electricity. Combining smart electricity plans and reasonable usage results in low electricity bills. So, make sure you turn off devices and appliances when not in use, and maintain your AC to make sure it is working efficiently. You can also use ceiling fans instead of running your AC all the time. If you think you have done enough and nothing changes, carry out an energy audit to determine where most of your power goes to. Then, make the right adjustments.

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