How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill
During the winter and the summer, most households use a lot of energy to control the indoor temperatures, which is reflected in the energy bill.
The cost of fuel, which is used in powering electricity plants, has been inflating in the past few years. This has led to an increase in electricity price per kilowatts. According to the U.S. Energy Department, households with many electrical appliances accrue high monthly bills, averaging around $115. As such, learning the hacks for reducing utility costs is critical.
This article discusses the energy-efficient tips homeowners can use to reduce electricity bills.
Transition to energy-efficient lighting
Although incandescent bulbs are cheap, much of their energy goes to waste because it gets converted into heat. To prevent this, homeowners should consider shifting to Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs. Though their prices might be higher, one will recuperate it by cutting utility bills. These bulbs have a life span of up to 25 times longer than the standard bulb. So homeowners will not have to incur replacement costs soon after buying them.
Optimize home heating using a programmable thermostat
During the winter and the summer, most households use a lot of energy to control the indoor temperatures, which is reflected in the energy bill. However, homeowners can significantly reduce their energy usage with a programmable thermostat. According to Energy.gov, decreasing the thermostat’s standard by 3℉ can save 10% of one’s annual electricity bills.
Besides configuring the thermostat’s temperature, another hack would be putting it in an interior wall away from sun exposure. The heat from the sun can increase the thermostat’s temperature and cause it to use energy to cool down.
Use the washing machine efficiently
A washing machine is at the top of the list of home appliances that consume the highest energy in a household. A single load of washing can use up to 450 watt-hours of electricity. Although going for an energy-efficient machine is key to reducing energy bills, other improvisations can reduce a washing machine’s energy usage. They include:
Pre-treat stains to reduce the need for extra wash cycles.
Spinning the machine when it’s fully loaded. Loading a few clothes increases the number of spins and energy usage.
Wash with cold water.
Air-dry clothes instead of using a tumble dryer.
Block off places where air can leak
A house with air leaks on windows and doors can lead to energy consumption in two ways. During the winter, the gaps let in cold air from outside and warm air from the house. In the summertime, the reverse happens. The gaps allow warm air from outside in and release cold air that’s supposed to cool the house. This causes the HVAC system to overwork to maintain air temperature at the ideal level. Pressure-sensitive weather strips to seal the air leakages can help resolve this problem.
Save more with your power usage
Saving has become a challenge for homeowners because bills keep spiking. However, using hacks like the ones explained above can help keep some coins in your pocket.
SG Electrical is a licensed, bonded, and insured solar and electrical company serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Coachella Valley. Highly--trained experts install, repair, clean, and maintain solar panels and provide comprehensive electrical services. Call us at (760)501-2423.
