How to Get Lower Electricity Bills: Top Tips That You Should Know

The United States spends approximately $300 billion per year on wasted energy, more than its military budget.

Avoiding common sources of energy loss will let you enjoy lower electricity bills. It requires only a few small lifestyle changes and new tools like solar panels and LED lights.

Read our guide for some of the most important ways to avoid wasting energy and overspending on electricity.

Be Careful When Cooking

A stocked fridge uses less energy. Keep it full or use bags of ice to fill empty spaces.

Keep lids on your pots and pans while cooking and cover foods and drinks before they go in the fridge.

Let your food thaw so that it doesn’t take as long to cook, but let warm foods cool so they don’t make your fridge work as hard.

Run your dishwasher at night and create the largest load possible. Turn off heat dry and air dry your dishes instead.

Lighten Your Laundry Load

Wait until you have a full load then wash your laundry in cold water and/or use cold water detergent to reduce your energy bills without sacrificing cleanliness.

Line-drying your laundry saves energy but there are ways to get the most out of your dryer. Be sure to keep every part of it clean, including the exhaust and lint trap. Do your laundry at night instead of peak energy use hours during the day.

Look At Your Lights

Using LED bulbs reduces your energy bills by $8.33 a month or $1,000 over 10 years.

Smart power strips separate energy loads based on device usage and let you turn off all your devices at once. Dimmer switches lessen the power usage of your light bulbs and increase their lifespan.

Help Your Hot Water Heater

Water heaters account for almost 2/3 of the average household’s energy usage, making them an essential consideration when looking for lower electricity bills.

Try a tankless hot water heater, and install a timer that schedules when it supplies hot water.

Use the valve on the side to drain sediment at least twice a year and buy an insulating jacket to prevent heat loss.

Hone Your HVAC

Vacuum the vents of your HVAC and furnace and replace them when they get old. Change the filters every 30 days as well.

Have your HVAC system inspected and maintained by a professional at least once per year.

Ask for an Audit

Energy audits tell you how much energy you’re using and which devices are taking the most of it. This is one of the best ways to find out how a few lifestyle changes can help you get lower electricity bills.

Switch to Solar

Install solar lights outside where they’ll get the most direct exposure for the best savings.

Sunrun’s solar panels require no maintenance, may entitle you to tax credits of up to 30% of their costs, and save you $20,000-$80,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years.

If you’re wondering “what does solar cost,” get a quote before taking the plunge.

Look for Lower Electricity Bills

Electricity is an essential utility that affects every daily task from cooking to bathing. It’s also easy to waste, but there are ways to use it more efficiently.

Get lower electricity bills by examining every part of your home for energy-suckers. Be sure to seal openings, turn off and unplug appliances, and cook and clean while using as little power as possible.

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