Saving money on your electric bill is a little bit tricker than slashing your grocery bill in half.
BUT like any of the ways to save money, small steps lead to great victories.
If you are looking for ways to save money on your electric bill this winter? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. I will share some tips and tricks that can help lower your electricity costs all year round.
If you haven’t created a budget yet, I highly recommend starting with my Ultimate Budgeting How to Post here.
What seems to run your electric bill the most is heating and air conditioning. We have propane for our heat source, which is by far the most significant expense in our home. We try to cut this down quite a bit by using an efficient gas wood burner, but I left that option out since that is only possible for some.
Install Energy Efficient Lighting
This is one of the easiest and most effective short-term solutions you can implement when it comes to saving money. You can save around 60% a year just by changing out a few light bulbs in your home.
Now how does that stack up on the yearly run? Your annual savings could be around $180!
The best part about these energy-efficient lights is that they typically last longer and provide better light than standard incandescent bulbs, so you won’t have to change them as often.
Adjust Your Thermostat
This is a straightforward way to reduce your electric bill and put money back in your pocket. You can save up to 10% on your heating costs by adjusting the thermostat from 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 63 degrees Fahrenheit while you are away from home or overnight and about 5% when you’re at home during the day.
Wash Clothes with Cold Water.
Another great way to reduce spending is by washing clothes with cold water instead of hot! By doing this, you can save about $5 per month on your electric bill, which may not seem like much, but that’s $60 per year in savings! Most detergents are formulated to work with cold water.
Switch off Devices/Appliances at the Wall
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s something that we often forget about! If you unplug your appliances when they are not in use, then you can save up to $100-200 a year on your electric bill.
It may seem like such a small thing to do, and it might take you a while to get used to it but believe me, this alone can save you some serious cash.
It works especially great if your appliances are set for automatic shut-off or sleep mode, which many offer nowadays.
Make sure your computers are switched to night mode.
Close Doors and Curtains
Yes, that’s right, another one of the easiest ways to save on your electric bill is by closing the doors and curtains. Sounds weird, right? If you don’t do it already, you should try to cut down on heat loss at night.
Often our rooms are filled with cold air, which can escape through an open door or window, so shut them before turning in for the night, and you’ll be surprised to see how much this little trick can do for your wallet.
Power Strips Are Your Friends
Power strips are such a practical and straightforward device. You know how many devices we have in our homes that need to be plugged in, right? This includes TV sets, lamps, computers, video game consoles, and much more! So what happens when you turn each of these devices off after using them?
Yes, they still consume electricity which is a total waste. The solution is simple: use power strips! By using one for each appliance, you can save up to $150 per year on your electric bill by eliminating standby mode.
Insulate Your Home
Yet another great way to save electricity all year round is by insulating your home. This one takes a bit more effort and costs a bit of money, but it’s well worth the investment.
The reason insulation works are it stops the hot or cold air from leaking in or out of your home, which means you don’t have to cool or heat your house all day long constantly.
Make sure not to forget about attics, basements, garages, crawlspaces, and garages.
Clean Your Dryer’s Lint Trap
There are many ways you can use your dryer to save electricity, but did you know that it can waste a lot of it? That’s because if lint gets stuck in the ducts, it will cause the dryer to work harder, leading to higher electricity bills for you.
So please keep an eye on the lint trap and clean it every time the laundry is done! In addition, you can compost your lint or save it for a fire starter!
Fix Outdoor Leaks
If your home sits in a cool, shady area, this one is perfect for you! By sealing up those cracks and crevices with weather stripping or caulking, you’ll be able to lower your cooling costs significantly.
Since those drafts can let cold air in through those leaks and warm air out, you’re cooling down the outside rather than your home, which will ultimately raise your electricity bill.
Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats are a great way to save electricity and are pretty easy to use. All you need to do is enter the temperature that makes you feel most comfortable and then set the time you want it to change.
For example, if you’re going to bed around 10 pm, set the temperature to 60 degrees Fahrenheit by 7:30 so that it’s nice and cool for when you get home from school or work!
Install New Light Bulbs
Finally, we arrive at the most apparent energy-saving tip: changing light bulbs. Remember how we used to have those old incandescent bulbs all over the place?
They’re obsolete nowadays, and you should replace them with CFL or LED ones as soon as possible.
A great starting point is the lamps in your home because they don’t get replaced as often as other bulbs. But make sure to check the whole house and see what else needs new light bulbs!
Get a New AC Unit
This tip is excellent for anyone who’s already hesitant about going green but still wants to save money on their electricity bill!
A new energy-efficient air conditioner will run much more efficiently than the old one so you’ll be able to save a lot of money while doing your part for the planet. Be sure the unit you buy is large enough to cool the room it’s going in. Otherwise, the unit will continue to run longer.
Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are one of the best ways to save electricity this winter! They create an updraft that causes hot air to rise and escape out of your home, making you feel cooler than it is, which means your AC doesn’t have to work as hard!
Plus, they’re super affordable and easy to install which makes it an even better deal overall.
Get a New Water Heater
This is especially great for anyone living in an older home with less efficient water heaters! If yours still needs to be replaced, you need to get on it ASAP because the newer models are so much more energy-efficient than the old ones.
So there you have it: 14 tips and tricks that can help you save electricity all year round! So don’t wait any longer—pick a couple of them and start implementing them right away to lower your power consumption.