Electric Bill: In 2019, the average American spent $115 a month on electricity. If this number makes you (and your household budget) cringe, fret not! There are many simple, inexpensive things you can do that will help you learn how to save on your electric bill–even by just a few dollars. And every cent counts when it means less waste energy.
Read on to find out what you can do to drop that DC (and AC) current flowing into your home.
Table of Contents
1. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water
If we told you how to lower your electric bill is as simple as washing in cold water, would you believe us? Probably not. But the truth is that if you’re washing in hot water, almost 90 percent of the energy used to do a load goes on water heating.
Not only that, but by washing in cold water, you can use less detergent. Most laundry soap is designed to work best in cold water.1.
2. Switch on a Fan
Knowing how to reduce your electric bill is as simple as switching on a fan instead of reaching for the AC remote. Any fan will do, but ceiling fans are the most efficient option. They can reduce the temperature in a room by 10 degrees, plus it uses 90 percent less energy than a centralized home cooling system.
And even if you can’t ditch that climate control, a fan can still help. Running a fan while the AC is on means you can turn the thermostat up around 4 degrees and still feel comfortable.
3. Change to LED Lightbulbs
LED light bulbs last as much as 25 times longer and a minimum of 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent fixtures. Plus, the bulbs themselves cost less than almost all other types of lighting.
So what’s holding you back? If you’re desperate to know how to lower your electric bill, it’s as simple as switching over to LED!
4. Install Solar Panels
While the initial investment is high, residential solar panels are going to save you money well into the future. But before you drop lots of dosh on a set, there are few things to consider when it comes to how much they’ll be reducing electricity bills: warranty coverage, positioning, and your climate.
In particular, you need to know the annual sun hours in your state. Somewhere like Washington totals around 2,170 sunny days a year, whereas Texas sees a whopping 2,850. Chat with a solar panel installer like Blue Raven Solar to see if they’re the right fit for your home: https://blueravensolar.com/texas/arlington/.
5. Put Devices on Standby
Every time you finish using a device–from your TV to your computer to your coffee maker–put it on standby. It might reduce the electric bill by as much as 10 percent.
And if you want to make even more drastic savings, switch those devices off completely. It might be a bit of a pain having to turn them on every time you use them, but you’ll thank yourself when you get that bill every month.
Now You Know How to Save on Your Electric Bill
Lighting, solar power, and clothes washing. These are just a sample of some of the most impactful ways to save money on your utilities. If you do your research and really dig into how to save on your electric bill, you’ll uncover dozens more simple tips and tricks.
For more helpful home living advice, be sure to browse our other articles.
