Most homes have several energy costs that can quickly escalate your energy bill. Here are five hacks homeowners can adopt to lower their electric bills.
The average monthly electric bill for US households in 2018 was $117.65, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
That’s not some small change, especially when you stretch it a year. And in these days of coronavirus shutdowns and enforced joblessness, it’s an expense that many can’t afford. That’s why it would be nice to have a few hacks to cut back on those escalating energy costs, and help you save money on your bills.
Luckily, we’ve got five of the best hacks out there so you can cut your electric bill. The best thing about these tricks? They’re so incredibly simple you’ll wonder why you never thought of them yourself.
1. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
This is one of the simplest and easiest ways to lower your electric bill.
If you have a washing machine, consider washing your clothes in cold water. Because when you use warm or hot water, the machine expends a great deal of energy—and that, of course, means more unnecessary expenditures.
But using cold water is a perfect way to reduce electric bills. Your clothes will wash just fine, and if you’re still concerned about how clean they’ll get, there are cold water detergents you can get to ensure an extra degree of cleanliness.
2. Clean, But Don’t Pre-Wash
Just as with a washing machine, it’s a good idea to use your dishwasher efficiently. Don’t pre-wash your dishes—that’s just wasting energy to do the dishwasher’s job for it.
Instead, help it out by lightly rinsing the dishes and scraping off any remaining bits of food. You shouldn’t clean partial loads, either; try to wait until there’s a full load before starting up the dishwasher. And if it comes with an energy-saving, smart wash cycle, obviously you’ll want to use it.
3. Search for Power Alternatives
Another—often overlooked—means of reducing your energy bill is to find alternative ways to power your home.
If you think it’ll work for you, consider researching solar panels or portable solar generators, like the Goal Zero Yeti 1400. These generators are compact solar power stations, capable of converting sunlight into electrical power, and storing it in batteries. Make sure to do your research by reading some solar power station reviews first though.
Federal solar tax credits can offset the cost of installing these power systems, and many states have their own incentive programs as well.
4. Use a Programmable Thermostat
Probably the single greatest driver of energy costs is heating and cooling. An easy way to lower your power bills is to not push up the heat in the winter, or lower the thermostat in summer.
It can be difficult to resist this urge, but a programmable, or “smart,” thermostat can be a great help. By pre-programming this device, it will automatically change your home’s temperature throughout the day.
Using the device’s smart settings is another easy way to cut back on energy expenses.
5. Turn Off What You’re Not Using
This is a no-brainer.
Turn off lights when they’re unneeded, set your computer to “sleep” or “hibernate” when you’re not using it, unplug laptop and cellphone chargers when not in use, and look for other overlooked energy-drainers that can be turned off. They may not use much power individually, but collectively it adds up.
Use These Energy-Saving Hacks to Cut Your Electric Bills
These days, with everyone sitting around at home, it’s more important than ever to monitor energy usage, and prevent electric bills from soaring.
The good news is that it’s not hard to save money. Just follow these five simple tricks and you’re well on the way to having more money in your wallet.
Looking for more home improvement tips and hacks? We’ve got you covered with plenty of great DIY articles.
