Electricity is one of those things most of us take for granted. Unfortunately, this convenience comes at a price – in many cases, a high one. Indeed, most homeowners spend $100 or more per month on their energy bills, and in the post-pandemic world, this figure is only rising.
While everyone knows the cost of electricity is high, the good news is there are ways to lower your bill. You can consider switching energy suppliers and make use of energy comparison websites like Power To Choose Dallas to compare electricity rates and find the best energy plans.
Let’s explore some simple methods you can use to save money on your power bill each month.
- Replace Major Appliances
Modern appliances are extremely energy efficient. So, for example, simply replacing your refrigerator can lower your electric bill significantly. Another appliance you may want to consider replacing is your stove. Traditional stoves can be costly to run. Meanwhile, induction stovetops are some of the most energy-efficient options on the market.
Of course, if you upgrade to an induction cooktop, you’ll need to switch to induction cookware, too, so there’s that consideration as well. While the expense of replacing major appliances can be high, they usually pay for themselves quickly in terms of savings on your power bill.
- Change Light Bulbs
A less expensive change you can make is to replace all your existing light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs. The most energy-efficient light bulbs are LEDs and CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs). These options use less energy to light your home and are better for the environment than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs.
If you need help picking out energy-efficient light bulbs for your home, check out Energy Star’s list of recommendations.
- Turn Off the Lights
This advice sounds pretty simple, we know, but you’d be surprised at the number of households that fail to turn lights off when a room is not in use. Even if you switch all your light bulbs to energy-efficient ones, as suggested above, turning the lights off when you aren’t in the room can save you even more on your monthly power bill.
If you’re used to turning on a light when you enter a room, try throwing open the window coverings instead to let natural light flood the space. Not only is this light better for your eyes, but it also doesn’t add to your monthly electric bill.
- Change Your HVAC Air Filter Religiously
It can be difficult to remember everything you should be doing regularly, but if you only remember one thing, it should be to replace the air filter on your HVAC system. When this filter gets clogged, it causes your HVAC to work harder and use more energy. Replacing the filter every three months will result in noticeable savings on your electric bill.
- Install a Programmable Thermostat
If you still have one of those old-fashioned manual thermostats, you are likely paying way too much for your electric bill. Did you know that by simply lowering the temperature in your home by a few degrees when you’re at work or sleeping, you could save as much as 10 percent on your power bill? Of course, this only happens if you manually turn it up and down accordingly.
To make it easier to regulate the temperature in your home, opt for a programmable smart thermostat that allows you to control everything from your smartphone – no matter where you are!
These are but a few of the many simple ways you can lower your power bill each month. As you can see, you don’t need to make any major changes or spend tons of money to see noticeable savings on your electric bill.