We all know that it’s not cheap to keep on the lights. Sure, you have to include the water heater, furnace, and AC but those can be talked about later. So because of this, the average family spends right around $2,500 on home utilities each year.
When you are able to adjust any changes you will be able to decrease your electricity bill by at least 30%. Here, we will discuss 4 areas where you can save big bucks on a monthly basis.
Home Cooling and Heating
When it comes to home cooling and heating it has been recognized as one of the main causes for a utility bill to be so high. It is also a great place to find opportunities to save money.
The first thing you should do is to ensure that the seals on all doors and windows are checked. Ensure that the seal on the freezer and fridge are intact so that the inside remains cold. If the seal is bad then you are allowing the escape of energy which in turn will cause your money to fly out the window.
Repairing ductwork that is leaky will increase the efficiency of your home’s cooling and heating system. So make sure to repair the ducts leading to and from your air conditioning, ventilation, and heating ducts.
Make smart adjustments to your thermostat by adjusting it down at least 15 degrees while you are not home or asleep. When this is done for a minimum of 8 hours, you are achieving an annual cost savings of 15% for cooling and heating. If you invest in a thermostat that is programmable, it will do all of the adjustments for you.
Speaking of adjustments, you should also keep in mind to make adjustments to your freezer and refrigerator’s temperature. Maintaining your fridge’s temperature at 37 degrees and 6 degrees for your freezer will allow your food to remain fresh, but also not having your freezer or fridge to work hard.
Water Maintenance
A home’s supply of hot water is considered to be an expense that is the second-highest next to lighting. When you cut the usage amount of hot water, whether it’s in the dishwasher, laundry, or shower, you will make incredible savings.
You can accomplish this easily by shortening the length of your showers by 3 minutes. When this is done you are also eliminating the use of water by at least 5 gallons.
You can also accomplish savings by having your shower head replaced with a more efficient one where your water consumption can be reduced by 2,500 gallons yearly. To achieve this, your best bet will be to consider the many recommendations from the EPA that hold certifications surrounding efficiency like ones marked WaterSense on them.
Washing your clothes in cold water or warm water will cut your usage of energy by at least 50% for each load you wash.
Make sure to fix your faucets that like to drip water. Not only will it eliminate the annoyance, but it will help to conserve water in the long run.
Inquire about rates that are discounted. Many utility companies have been known to offer a discounted rate depending on what time it is. This allows households to save as much as 20% during times that are off-peak.
Home Lighting and Power
The use of a home’s lighting and overall power supply can equal to as much as 15% of usage. This is a lot when you think about it. Luckily, to battle these costs you have several options at your disposal.
First, you can contact your utility company and see about having them conduct an audit on your energy use. Most of the time they will give you ATCO electricity rates based on the results.
Another option is to replace all light bulbs you currently have. This allows for a savings of at least $80 yearly just by making the switch to LED or fluorescent light bulbs bearing the stamp by Energy Star.
A third option is to use power strips for items that are in “standby” mode when they are off. These include TV’s, microwaves, and other electronics that are not used constantly. When you use a power strip you can easily cut the power completely to all that are plugged into it without worrying if power is trickling little by little.
So, no matter what your utility bill’s amount is, there should be no reason why you can’t save on the amount that you use. This is why using the above options will provide you with the most savings.
