7 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Electric Bill
January 19, 2017When it comes to saving money on monthly expenses, we all know that there are a few obvious places to cut back, such as that $5 coffeehouse cup of java or that pricey trip to the salon. However, there are a number of ways to reduce your electric bill that you may not have realized. From installing a smart thermostat to using a high-end fan, keep reading to find out how you can cut costs on your monthly electric bill.
7 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Electric Bill
1. Invest in a smart thermostat: A smart thermostat is a fabulous way to control your home’s heating and cooling system. We installed a smart thermostat a few months ago and have seen a substantial reduction in our electric bill. This is the specific model that we have and we love the “Away” feature. The thermostat is synced to my smartphone so when I exit a 10 mile radius of my home, the thermostat switches to “Away” mode and adjusts the temperatures accordingly. Once I enter back into that 10 mile radius of my home, the thermostat switched to “Home” mode and turns on to make the house comfortable again. There are a myriad of other features that have made this thermostat a worthwhile investment for our family.
2. Insulate windows & doors: Did you know that a lot of heat transfers through windows and doors? However, if you insulate them, you can keep the heat where you want it – outside during summer and inside during winter. It only takes one afternoon to insulate the windows and doors in your home. This is the insulation kit we purchased and it was so easy & quick to apply to our windows.
3. Let your curtains help you: Don’t underestimate the power of the sun. During the summer, close your curtains and blinds to keep the sunlight out of your house. During the winter, open your curtains to let the sunlight in!
4. Use a fan in the warmer months: During the summer, we always have a fan running to help keep us comfortable. It lets us keep the central cooling temperature at a higher temperature, which makes for big savings over time. This Ozeri Ultra 42 inch Wind Fan is the one we’ve been enjoying recently. It features a stylish, space-saving design that complements my room decor.
I love that this fan also produces a higher air velocity with much less noise than a typical room fan. This fan offers 3 different whisper-quiet speed settings and a 90 degree oscillation for ideal air flow.
There are 3 pre-programmed airflow patterns that are designed to promote sleep and comfort. With the 12 hour timer, push-button convenience, easy-to-read LED screen, and a handy remote control, adjusting my room climate has never been easier. Plus, the fan is easy to assemble, with no tools required.
5. Launder in cold water: When doing laundry, a lot of power goes into heating the water that is used to wash the clothing. Skip the hot wash and launder your loads in cold water. Your clothing will be just as clean and your wallet will thank you!
6. Upgrade the appliances: Nowadays, many appliances are sold with Energy Star certifications that ensure that the appliances are energy-efficient. If you have any older appliances in the house, upgrade them to newer models and watch the savings add up.
7. Make sure your bill & meter match up: This is an issue that I had a few months ago. We got an electric bill that was much higher than usual. So I decided to check the water meter and see if the reading matched up the figure on the bill. In fact, it did not match. So I was able to call my utility company and have it adjusted. That saved us a few hundred dollars that month!
I hope these tips have helped you find ways to reduce your electric bill.
Now, tell me: What are your tips for savings on your monthly electric bill? Do you use a fan during the summer?
Thank you to Ozeri for partnering with me on this post. All opinions are mine alone. This post contains affiliate links.
Ever wanted to learn Arabic online? Check out Arabic Road & learn Arabic on your own terms.
Hey I have that same fan! Love it! We got a smart thermometer last year and it really DOES help cut down on costs!
Great tips this time of the year. It is so tempting to have the heat on higher than necessary when it is snowing out. I think the way we have saved the most money is by having the programmable thermostat.
There are months where our electric bill is really out of hand. I love these tips for cutting those energy costs. I never even thought to double check meters to make sure that the readings matched up! I love the sleek design of that fan. Looks like it is far better than the bulky one we have now.
[…] 7 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Electric Bill – 1 freebie(s)? […]
I LOVE your tips! Much like you, I try my best to keep my electricity bill low, not only for the money savings but also for the environment. Thank you so much for sharing these — I also learned some new tips!
These are such practical and simple tips, that anyone can do. We have solar so pretty much don’t pay anything for our electricity. I think our total bill for last year was $36 and we don’t pay it, it rolls over so that it may get credited out. Gas on the other hand… 🙂
I love number 7! I never realized that was possible!
Yes, it’s possible that the technician the utility company sends out makes a mistake. It happened to us. So it’s worth it to double-check their readings, especially if one month’s bill seems unusually higher than normal.
Thanks for stopping by, Lissa!
Thank you so much for this! Our bill is usually high this time of year so this is really, really, really helpful. These are really simple tips though that we can implement.
I’m so sorry that you are having to go through all this. I think it’s terrible that there is no management there to help anyone if something should happen, and I know that with your baby being sick, it only makes things worse. I pray that things will get better very soon. It costs nothing and might save a life. Also, it would alert someone that there’s no management team there. I’ll bet they would find out what’s going on.