How to Lower Your Electric Bill
Your electric bill is a primary expense in relation to running your home, and if it’s creeping ever higher, you’re likely interested in what you can do to get it moving in the right direction – downward. Fortunately, there are some tips and tricks for doing so, and many of them are far less trouble than you may think.
Getting Back to Basics: Turning Things Off
It’s as simple as this – when you’re not using something, turn it off. This includes flipping lights off when you leave a room or leave your house, but it goes beyond this. While some of the electronics in your home need to remain plugged in, others do not, and by unplugging them completely, you ensure that they’re not draining power even when they’re off.
If there’s an indicator light that alerts you when a device is on or off, it’s your clue that power is being sapped. Using a power strip for multiple devices can make the process of unplugging them far more convenient.
No More Coddling Your Computer
Modern computer screens no longer require screen savers, and they’re a waste of power. Set your computer to sleep or hibernation mode – which requires considerably less power – after 10 to 15 minutes of inactivity.
Think Before You Use
The bottom line is that you are in control of how often you run the dishwasher, the washing machine, the vacuum cleaner, and every other appliance in your home. If you’re simply in the habit of running the dishwasher every evening or of doing laundry according to a schedule – rather than to need – you might be using more energy than is necessary. Waiting until the dishwasher is full or until you have a good-sized load of laundry to wash before powering up the machines can save you money – and time.
Change Out Those Bulbs
While LED bulbs cost more to purchase upfront, they can save a significant amount in energy costs over their lifetimes. In fact – in the course of delivering the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs – they require up to 85 percent less energy. Further, they now reach full brightness right away and can be used with dimmer switches, which means there’s nothing not to love.
Keep Your TV in Check
While the high-def TVs most of us have in our homes use about 60 percent less energy than older models did, there are still energy-saving tweaks you can make, including:
- If your TV has a quick start feature, you can disable this energy-consuming extra in settings.
- If your TV has automatic brightness control (ABC), enabling it ensures that you won’t employ more brightness than is necessary. Since most television viewing happens at night, your effort in this department can really pay off.
- Internet-ready televisions and add-on tools such as Apple TV and Roku streaming devices use significantly less energy than streaming through a game console does.
We Can Help You Lower Your Electric Bill
Ready to cut your electrical costs? We’re standing by to help and have the expertise and resources to help get the job done right.