Jonah JacobsHow to Lower Your Electricity Bill
How many times have you received your electric bill in the mail, only to never open it until it’s already past due? If it’s happened before, it’s probably because you’re tired of seeing substantial energy costs. Luckily, you can cut those costs without too much work, as we’ll show you now.
1. Ditch your washer and dryer for more manual methods.
Your washer and dryer usage can make up a big chunk of your energy and water bills. That’s why you should try to wash your clothes by hand at least a couple of times per month, if not all the time.
When drying your clothes, use a drying rack. They’re cheap, and as long as you don’t live in an apartment building that doesn’t allow them, these racks can save you a ton of cash since dryers are known to be energy hogs.
If and when you use the washer and dryer, do it when you have a full load. And to speed up drying and make it more efficient, buy some wool dryer balls. They separate clothes, so they dry quicker.
2. Buy a programmable thermostat.
It’s the easiest way to control your thermostat when you’re not home.
3. Charge your gadgets while driving.
Buy a cheap car charger and take your gadgets on the go to save electricity by not charging them at home. If you do charge them at home, don’t leave them charging all night.
4. Turn your electronic devices off when they’re not in use.
With tablets, for example, there’s no need to keep them on when you’re done with them. This will sap their energy and require more frequent charging.
5. Prevent phantom energy from driving up your bill.
Leaving devices plugged in uses power, even when they’re technically turned off. This phantom energy can make up a large part of your bill, so buy power strips and switch them off when items are not in use.
6. Turn your lights off or buy motion sensors.
A simple rule to follow is to turn off the lights when nobody’s in the room. If this is too difficult to enforce, motion sensors can help.
7. Limit the use of electronics.
Instead of having your kids playing video games or watching TV 24/7, try making specific times when they can use those devices. It’s healthier for them, and your electric bill will be better off.
8. Use natural light when you need it.
Open your blinds during the day to avoid using lights. When you leave your house, close the blinds, so that same natural light doesn’t increase your cooling costs.
9. Switch to LED lights.
An easy way to cut your lighting costs is to switch to LED lights. Some say this move can reduce your lighting costs by 90 percent, which should make your bill much smaller.
