5 Practical Ways To Lower Your Electricity Bills

Friday, 15 March 2024, 10:26 am
Article: Hugh Grant

Electricity is a constant variable every home needs to remain functional, but unfortunately, the bills can sometimes skyrocket each month. However, this is reversible and doesn’t require costly upgrades or drastic lifestyle changes. With little changes in your daily habits as a household, there will be a huge impact on the power cost without compromising your comfort. Here are five ways to get started.

Use the Correct Air Conditioning Settings

Knowing the best temperature setting to work with keeps costs down and promotes the comfort of your home. The best starting point is to set the thermostat to the highest reading you find comfortable. Remember that every lower degree will significantly raise the energy consumption level.

When you are not around or at night, raise the HVAC system’s temperature by a few more degrees. It will help further reduce the cooling cost, which can have a massive difference when consistent at the end of the month. According to Stinson Air, the optimal temperature for your air conditioner is 21 to 22 degrees in winter and 24 to 25 degrees in summer, not overheating or overcooling. It’s advisable to leave your system on to maintain an optimal temperature at home.

Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Appliances

Over the years, most electronic gadgets have become insufficient and consume more energy. The newer models of tech products tend to be more energy-conserving than the older versions. Functionality depreciation over the years can also cause a device to change its power consumption rate. Consider using energy-saving light bulbs, like LEDs. They might cost more initially, but they’re worth it because they last a long time and don’t use much power.

When purchasing these modern devices, concentrate on those with the Energy Star label. This indicates they meet the energy efficiency guidelines created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It would be best if you also actively maintained these appliances over time to make them perform at their best.

Use Power Srtips and Unplug Electronics

Phantom energy consumption happens in most electronic gadgets and arises whenever you turn off the device, but it continues to draw power. The best way to deal with this is by installing some power strips, which help switch off several devices simultaneously when you’re not using them.

It would also help if you kept the devices and their chargers unplugged. Note that some accessories, such as coffee makers, gaming consoles, and phone chargers, will consume energy even when idle.

Make Use of Natural Light

Open curtains and blinds during the day so the sun can light up your house. Arrange the furniture where they get the most sun. Consider putting skylights or solar tubes in dark rooms to let in more sunshine.

Choose light-colored drapes or blinds that can be readily opened during the day to let in sunshine and closed at night to provide privacy. You should also clean your windows to ensure maximum penetration of the sunlight.

Seal Air Leaks and Insulate Your Home

Find and close any spots where outside air sneaks into your house. Look around your windows and doors for any small spaces or cracks. If you find any, use weatherstripping or caulk to seal them. Then, consider enhancing the insulation in places like your attic, walls, and floors.

This prevents warm air from escaping when it’s cold outside and helps the home stay cool when the sun is baking in the summer. Tackling these air leaks and boosting your home’s insulation means no strain on your heating and cooling equipment.

Endnote

Reducing electricity bills can help keep the cost of home ownership low. You have many alternatives to make your place energy-efficient, from upgrading to modern devices to knowing how to maneuver around the thermostat settings. For long-term benefits, remain consistent with the best practices.

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