With the advent of new, more efficient, and cost-effective technologies, it has become easier than ever to maximize the benefits of your home while also conserving energy and lowering your utility bills.
In this article, we will discuss different methods for saving energy and reducing monthly electricity costs.
22 Ways to Conserve Energy and Save on Electric Bills
These are some simple tips you can make to save energy at home.
1. Unplug Unused Appliances and Electronics
Many appliances and electronics drain energy even when they’re not in use. This sneaky power use happens with TVs, game consoles, and chargers. They pull electricity from the outlet all day and night, wasting energy.
To stop this waste, unplug devices you’re not actively using.
Televisions often have a quick start feature that eats up more power; turning it off saves energy. Also, switch your computer monitor off when you leave it for a while. If unplugging each item feels too much work, use a power strip to turn everything off with one click.
2. Turn Off Your Computer and Monitor
Shut down your computer and monitor when you’re not using them. This simple step reduces energy use and helps lower your electric bill.
Even screen savers can still use energy, so turning off the display entirely is smarter.
Over time, powering down can also reduce wear and tear on your equipment.
3. Manage Your Thermostat
Set your thermostat to 68°F in winter and 78°F in summer. This simple step helps you save on heating and cooling. A smart thermostat makes it even easier, letting you control the temperature from anywhere.
By cutting up to 30% of energy use, you could save about $180 annually. Make sure your home stays comfortable without wasting energy by checking the thermostat when you leave for work or go to bed.
Adjusting it a few degrees can make a big difference in your bill.
Buy a programmable thermostat if you don’t have one yet. It adjusts the temperature for you, so you never forget. With this gadget, your home is always at the right temperature when you’re there, and it saves energy when you’re not.
4. Turn Off Unnecessary Lights
Switch off lights in rooms you’re not using. This simple action can lower energy consumption and reduce your energy bills. It’s an easy step towards energy conservation that everyone in the house can help with.
Make it a habit to do a quick check before leaving home or going to bed, ensuring all unnecessary lights are turned off.
5. Maximizing Natural Light Usage
Let the sunshine in to save on your energy bills! Open curtains and blinds daily to brighten your home with free, natural light. This simple step cuts down on the amount of electricity you need.
Put mirrors across from windows to bounce sunlight into darker corners.
Plant trees strategically outside your windows. In summer, they provide shade that keeps your house cooler. When leaves fall in winter, sunlight streams through bare branches and warms up rooms.
Install efficient double-glazed windows to enjoy natural light without losing heat or cool air.
6. Use LED Light Bulbs
Use LED light bulbs to cut down on your energy bill. They use up to 85% less energy than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs for the same light. These smarter bulbs can save you more than $100 in their lifetime, even though they may cost around $5 each.
LEDs come in many shapes and colors that match your style perfectly. They also work well with dimmer switches, giving you control over how bright or soft you want your space to be.
Choose energy-efficient lighting as a simple step towards reducing your carbon footprint. LEDs last much longer than traditional bulbs, so you’ll save time and effort by not having to replace them as often.
Make the switch and enjoy lower electric bills and a brighter home without wasting energy.
7. Run Full Loads of Laundry
Running full loads of laundry is key to saving power, like managing your thermostat for energy efficiency. Make sure your washing machine is full before you start a cycle. This cuts down on the number of loads you have to do.
If you wash only full loads, you use less water and energy over time. If your washer has this option, choose the right water level for each load.
Always wait for enough clothes for a full load instead of many small ones. This simple step can make a big difference in reducing energy consumption in your home! Plus, it’s an easy habit that helps create an energy-efficient house with lower electric bills.
8. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
Wash your clothes in cold water to reduce energy use. Hot water heating uses a lot of power, so you shave off a chunk of your electric bill by choosing cold water. Your wardrobe will come out just as clean, and colors will stay brighter longer, meaning your clothes will last longer.
Switching to cold washes is also kinder to the planet. You reduce carbon emissions each time you skip the hot cycle. Use energy-efficient appliances labeled with an Energy Star for even bigger savings.
These smart choices can greatly affect your home’s energy costs and environmental footprint.
9. Hang Dry Your Laundry
Hang dry your laundry to cut down on energy use. Your clothes dryer is one of the top energy hogs in your home. You save monthly money on your electric bill by skipping the dryer and using a clothesline or drying rack.
Plus, air-drying is gentler on fabrics, so your clothes last longer.
Drying clothes outside can even add a fresh smell without fabric softeners. And remember, saving energy isn’t just good for your wallet; it’s also kinder to our planet.
10. Adjust Your Fridge or Freeze Temperature
Set your fridge temperature to 38°F and your freezer to 5°F. These settings keep food safe while saving energy. If you set them colder than needed, you use more power. Check the temps with a thermometer.
Adjust the dials until they are just right.
Make sure there’s enough space around your refrigerator for air to flow. This helps it work better. Don’t let frost build up in your freezer either; defrost it regularly! Keeping these appliances running smoothly means they use less electricity.
11. Open or Close the Curtains or Blinds
Depending on the season, opening and closing your blinds can lower your electric bill. In cooler months, open curtains and blinds to allow the sunlight to warm your home naturally. This way, you won’t need to reduce the heat as much.
In summer, close them to keep your home cooler and reduce air conditioning use. Control how much sun comes in with curtains or blinds and make a big difference in your energy bills.
Use this easy trick all year round for better energy efficiency at home!
12. Set Your Water Heater Temperature
Set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The default is around 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Turning the temperature down by 20 degrees can help prevent scolding while saving anywhere from 4% to 22% in energy annually.
This saves energy and cuts electric bills. Your showers will still be hot, and you’ll use less power to heat water.
Upgrades You Can Make to Save Electricity
You can make several investments through purchases/upgrades to save energy and lower your electric bill.
13. Upgrade Older Products with High-efficiency Ones
Upgrading older hardware can lead to savings and a lower electric bill. For example, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, replacing your toilet with an energy-efficient model can reduce your toilet water usage by up to 60% annually.
Consider upgrading hardware such as:
- Light bulbs
- Dimmer light switches
- Windows
- Toilets
- Taps and faucets
- Showerheads
14. Install Solar Panels
Get solar panels to tap into the sun’s power. They cut down your electric bill by using renewable energy. Solar panels take in sunlight and turn it into energy for your home, meaning you use less from the power company.
Your house becomes an energy creator, not just a user.
Solar power is clean and doesn’t run out like coal or gas. Panels last for years, and little upkeep is needed. Switch to solar PV technology, enjoy lower bills, and help the planet, too!
15. Use Energy Star Appliances
Did you know appliances account for nearly 20% of the average household’s electricity usage? Upgrading your old appliances can have some severe impacts on your electricity bill.
Energy Star is a government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. In 2019 alone, Energy Star and its partners helped Americans save nearly 500 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and avoid $39 billion in energy costs.
Energy Star-rated appliances use 10% to 50% less electricity than non-Energy Star appliances. For example, dishwater with the Energy Star label must use 3.5 gallons or less per cycle, while some older models use over 10 gallons of water per cycle.
16. Purchase Smart Power Strips
Electronics continue to draw electricity even after they are turned off. Intelligent power strips prevent electricity waste by cutting off power to connected electronics when they are not in use.
Instead of unplugging your electronic device every time you are finished using it to prevent it from continuously drawing power, you can plug it into an intelligent power strip.
This is a relatively inexpensive way to conserve energy and lower your bill.
17. Install a Programmable/Smart Thermostat
A smart thermostat, such as the Nest or Ecobee, can be used with home automation to control a home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. One of the major advantages of smart thermostats is that they are easy to use and can often be connected to your smart devices (e.g., cell phones).
Similar to traditional thermostats, smart thermostats are programmable, but they also learn and adjust to your schedule. For example, if the intelligent thermostat knows you’ve left the house, it will turn off the air conditioning.
You also can control them remotely from outside the home. They conserve energy by keeping the temperature as low as possible for as long as possible and adjusting to the household’s schedule.
Smart thermostats also record temperatures and can notify you when the air filter needs to be replaced, which helps to ensure that your HVAC system works efficiently.
18. Upgrading the HVAC System
Consider replacing your old HVAC system with a new, energy-efficient model. Look for units with the ENERGY STAR label to ensure top performance and energy savings. Modern systems use less electricity and can heat or cool your home more effectively.
They also work better at maintaining a consistent temperature.
Check if your current system is the right size for your house. A unit that’s too big or too small won’t run efficiently. You could also add a smart thermostat to get even more control over your heating and cooling needs.
Smart thermostats adjust the temperature based on when you’re home or away, saving you money on monthly bills.
19. Perform Maintenance on Your HVAC Equipment
Performing semi-annual or annual maintenance on your HVAC equipment might seem like a hassle or waste of money, but this can lower your electric bill. For example, if you do not regularly change the filters on your HVAC system, including your furnace, the equipment needs to work harder and spend more energy.
Having your HVAC system checked can ensure that everything works properly and fix/identify any issues before they become more significant problems.
Other maintenance includes:
- Cleaning the coils on your fridge
- Removing the lint from your dryer after every load
- Checking plumbing for leaks
- Dusting and cleaning appliances
While these changes might seem small and insignificant, they add up, contribute to energy conservation, and will lower your electric bill over time.
The savings might not be huge month to month, but you will see significant savings annually. Try out these no-cost and low-effort energy-saving tips for one month and see how much money you can save!
20. Cleaning or Replacing Air Filters Regularly
Dirty air filters make your HVAC equipment work harder, using more energy and hiking up your electric bills. Clean or new filters improve your indoor air quality, too. They let the system run smoother and more efficiently.
Check your filters monthly, especially during heavy-use months like winter and summer. If they look dirty, change them immediately to save energy and keep the air clean.
21. Insulate Your Home
Seal up your home to keep the warmth in and cold out. This means fixing any air leaks around windows and doors. Add weatherstripping or caulk to gaps where drafts sneak in. Insulation is key, too.
Ensure your attic, walls, and floors are well-insulated to prevent heat escaping.
Upgrade your windows for a cozier house. Double-pane windows with low-e coatings can block unwanted heat flow. Heavy curtains can also help you control the indoor temperature without cranking up the heating or cooling system.
Remember, these simple changes reduce energy use and make your home more comfortable year-round!
22. Using Energy-Efficient Windows
Swap old windows with energy-efficient ones to keep your home cozy. They trap heat inside when it’s cold and block the sun’s rays during hot months, so your heater and air conditioner don’t have to work as hard.
Your electricity bills will go down because of this.
Double-glazed windows add another layer of protection. They have two glass panes with space between them, making them great at controlling indoor temperatures. With these upgrades, you’ll notice less noise from outside, too! And over time, the money saved on energy can help cover the cost of new windows.
Why is it Important to Save Electricity?
The most obvious benefit of saving electricity is that it lowers your electric bill and helps your pocketbook.
However, there are many other benefits to saving and conserving electricity, such as environmental and health. Small actions always have more significant benefits.
The Bottom Line
By changing a few habits in your daily life, you can lower your electricity bill while reducing your reliance on fossil fuels.
By conserving energy and electricity, you also reduce the resources used, pollution, and greenhouse gases emitted into the environment.
Saving electricity and lowering your electric bill are good for the environment and good for your pocketbook. That’s right, being environmentally conscious has some serious economic benefits.
Additional Reading: Make Your Home Energy-Efficient
Additional reading: Should I Unplug My TV When Not in Use
