15 Ways to Save Electricity and Keep More Money

With all the energy saving advice available out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Should you install solar panels? How much will it cost? Should you just upgrade all your appliances to energy efficient ones? Will that really save you money? Here we have pulled together 15 simple ways that you can save money and electricity, without having to make any big investments.

Saving electricity is a great way to keep more money and help the environment. But, how can you do it? Here are 15 ways to save electricity and keep more money: Turn off lights and appliances when you’re not in the room or using them. Install compact fluorescent light bulbs. Use a clothesline instead of a dryer. Limit your shower time. Turn down your thermostat. Replace old appliances. Replace single-paned windows with double-paned windows. Close your curtains during the day (opening them in the evening, when the sun sets). Turn down the temperature on your water heater. Plant deciduous trees for shade. Turn off the TV, computer, and other electronics when not in use. Funny Blog

Ever notice that some people seem to have no problem saving money while others struggle to make ends meet? Sure, some have better-paying jobs, but there are other factors at play. How you save money is just as important as how much you’re saving. Here’s how to make saving money work for you: (1) Pay yourself first. Set up your bills to automatically be paid out of your account every month. (2) Take care of your debt. Always pay more than the minimum balance due on your credit cards and loans. (3) Pay less for your home. Lower your mortgage payments by setting up a biweekly payment schedule, a mortgage refinance, or ask your mortgage lender about a reduced-payment plan. ~~

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my information for more information. When you pay your home’s electric bill, you’re probably wondering how you can save energy. So we turned to an expert in lowering energy bills: Energy Star. All the tips given here are easy to apply. And as you’ll see, you can lower your and energy costs and feel more comfortable while saving thousands of dollars in the long run. I will also tell you how your state can help you save money on electricity. We took advantage of a program in our state that allowed us to upgrade our entire HVAC system for much less out-of-pocket money than you might expect. Details below! …

Simple ways to reduce your electricity bill

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. They evaluate different products and only give their seal of approval to a product if it passes their rigorous tests. But if the device has an Energy Star rating, you can be sure it’s a good way to save energy. According to Energy Star, the average American family spends about $2,060 a year on utilities. You estimate that the distribution of your expenses is about the same:

29% – Heating
21% – Electronics
13% – Cooling
13% – Production of hot water
12% – instruments
12% – Lighting

Let’s see how we can save energy in each area. Reducing energy costs can be achieved by many small changes that together have a significant effect.

1. How to save on heating costs

Heating is probably the biggest part of your energy bills, so let’s first look at how you can reduce these costs. The efficiency of your water heater, the largest appliance in most homes, is greatly affected by an inexpensive filter that can be replaced without tools. All you need to know is the size, and it’s clearly visible. Here is a picture of ours, yours should be similar: The filter should be replaced approximately every two months. So if you can’t remember the last time you changed it, it’s time. Just remove and install a new one. It’s that simple. We buy packs of 3-4 filters on Amazon for $20-30. When purchasing, please ensure that the dimensions listed correspond to the size of your filter. Press here to check your filter on Amazon. Another way to save energy is to install a programmable thermostat. Adjusting the indoor temperature by just a few degrees when you’re not home or when you’re sleeping will have a significant effect over time. We installed the Nest thermostat because it is not only programmable, but it can learn and adapt to your schedule. It has some great features, like remote access, which allows you to view and configure it from your smartphone. It can also be connected to many other devices – anything marked works with the Nest. For example, some carbon monoxide and smoke detectors work with Nest, and when they detect carbon monoxide, they cause Nest to turn off the furnace. Most utility companies offer an energy savings rebate if you install a programmable thermostat. The rebate combined with the energy savings will pay off the thermostat in a few months. But there’s a caveat… A programmable thermostat will only save you money if you actually program it. They are very easy to set up, and if you do, you will feel equally comfortable and save money in the process.

2. Unplugging reduces your electricity bill

I always thought all I had to do was turn off the lights to save electricity. I guess I’m not the smartest, because I never realized that you can save a lot of energy just by unplugging. Even when electronic devices are turned off, they still draw enough current, so this phenomenon has a name – phantom power. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, an average household has 20 to 40 devices that use phantom power. And at the end of the year, you have an average monthly electricity bill just to power unused items. Things like lamps, televisions, toasters, blenders, coffee makers, game consoles, tools and other items cost money just because they are plugged into an outlet. For things like an entertainment center or table with multiple devices, you can save energy by connecting them to the . smart power stripFrom now on, they will no longer consume electricity at the touch of a button. Remember, it is the combination of many small adjustments that will result in the greatest reduction in energy consumption. And make a big hole in your account.

3. Cool ways to reduce your home air conditioning energy bill

As a society, we are so used to keeping a room temperature between 68 and 72 that we immediately turn on the fan or heater when the temperature changes a few degrees. You can always wear less clothing, but there are also things you can do to slow down the time it takes to heat your home. If your home’s windows face east and west, using curtains or drapes that block the heat in the morning and afternoon can help slow down the cooling. You can also plant a shade tree near the hottest part of your home. As mentioned earlier, by changing your furnace filter every month or at least every other month, you can save money on your cooling and heating costs. A clogged filter slows down airflow and forces the system to run longer to keep you cool. It’s also a good idea to have your air conditioner checked and adjusted before the cooling season begins. I’ve always been of the opinion that , if it’s not broken, why wastemoney on it? But when they replaced my water heater, I asked the technician what they did to fix the water heater that the average homeowner doesn’t do. This is what a qualified HVAC technician should do to adjust your air conditioner:

Clean the evaporator coils and the condenser of the air conditioner. Dirty heat exchangers reduce the system’s ability to cool your home and force the system to run longer, increasing energy costs and decreasing the life of the unit.
Check the coolant leveland adjust if necessary. Too much or too little refrigerant makes your system less efficient, increases your costs and shortens the life of your system.
Clean and adjust the fan partsto ensure proper airflow through the system for greater comfort. Airflow problems can reduce the efficiency of your system by up to 15%.
Tighten all electrical connectionsand measure the voltage and current to the motors. Faulty electrical connections can lead to unsafe operation of your system and shorten the life of critical components.
Lubricate all moving parts.Unlubricated parts cause friction in engines and increase energy consumption.
Check and inspect the condensate drain of your central air conditioner, furnace and/or heat pump (in cooling mode). A clogged drain can cause water damage in your home and affect the humidity in the room.
Check the control panelto ensure proper and safe operation. Check the hardware boot cycle to make sure the system boots, operates and shuts down correctly.

OTHER WAYS TO SAVE MONEY:

4. how to save on water heating costs

Most people never check if their water heater is the right temperature. Of course it’s great to take a hot shower and wash dishes in hot water, but lowering the temperature just a few degrees can save a lot of energy. The average family spends up to $ $600 per year on water heating, so this is a great way to cut energy costs. Energy.gov recommends lowering the water heater temperature to 120°F.

Use cold water for most washes – Your clothes will stay clean if you wash them in cold water. If a particularly dirty item requires hot or warm water, do so. However, I almost exclusively use cold water and have no complaints. Pre-soaking can also help remove stains.
Use the dishwasher only when needed and at certain times – Dishwashers use a lot of hot water, but there are some energy-saving tricks to minimize the cost of using them.
Of course, you shouldn’t use it with just a few objects. Try to get the vacuum and run them at full power. In addition, certain times of the day or night are designated as peak periods when more energy is loaded. Since a dishwashing cycle can take an hour or more, energy can be saved by using the dishwasher off-peak – usually at night.
Install low-flow fixtures.Federal regulations now require new showerheads and faucets to be low-flow, but if you have older fixtures, it’s worth spending some money to upgrade them. Showerheads and faucets manufactured before 1992 can use more than times as much water as new .
Switching to low-flow devices can result in significant energy savings. This will save you 25%-60% of the water you use, and you probably won’t even notice a difference in your shower.

The location of the boiler also plays a role. If it is in an unheated garage, it should be wrapped with a heating cover to reduce heat loss. Even if your water heater is in the house and warm to the touch, covering it can reduce heat loss by 25-45% and save an average of 7-16% on annual costs. They are not expensive and easily pay for themselves in less than a year.

5. Means of saving energy in the operation of equipment

Refrigerators

Old refrigerators are among the biggest consumers of electricity. If your refrigerator is more than ten years old, it probably uses twice or even three times as much energy as a new Energy Star refrigerator. (You can calculate your savings with this fridge retirement savings calculator ). You can save energy by adjusting the temperature by just a few degrees. The recommended temperatureis 35°-38°F for the fresh food compartment and 0°F for the individual freezer compartments for long-term storage. Check the temperature of the refrigerator by placing an instrument thermometer in a beaker of water in the center of the refrigerator. Read it in 24 hours. Check the freezing temperature by placing a thermometer between the freezer packs and reading it after 24 hours. Make sure the seals on the refrigerator door are closed. You can test this by closing the door on a piece of paper or a banknote so that it is half in the fridge and half out. If you can get the paper or note out easily, the latch may need to be adjusted or the seal replaced, or if this is not possible, you can schedule a replacement. Another factor that increases the energy consumption of your refrigerator is the number of times per day the refrigerator is opened. If more than one person lives in your home, your refrigerator may be opened 30 to 40 times a day. As all mothers say, think about what you want before you open it. Or, if you’re taking groceries home, pile cold things next to the fridge before you open it. And maybe once a week or so, get rid of the old stuff so you can find what you need more easily.

Dishwasher

When you buy a new dishwasher, theEnergy Star label means that it saves energy compared to models without the Energy Star label. Federal standards now allow dishwashers to use a maximum of 4.25 gallons of water per cycle. To give you an idea of how much energy they can save compared to older models, we’ve compiled a list of… Dishwashers manufactured before 1994 use more than 10 gallons of water per cycle. Check if your dishwasher has an internal heating element – most newer dishwashers have one. Allows you to set the temperature. Many dishwashers set the temperature at 170 degrees, but normally it should be between 120 and 150 degrees. If your dishwasher has an air dry mode, it will save more energy than if it is hot dried. If the unit does not have an air drying mode, you can always leave the door ajar when the cycle is complete.

6. Ways to save money on lighting

I admit it. For a while, I was penny-wise and pound-foolish. Every two weeks or so, I’d spend $8 on a pack of old light bulbs. Not only do they burn up faster than compact fluorescent lamps, but can you believe it? 90% of the energy of an old light bulb is lost as heat! Spend a little more on CFL bulbs and chances are you’ll never touch them again after installation. CFL lamps save electricity because they use 70-90% less energy and last up to 12 years! CFLs can save you $50-75 on your energy bill, just like buying incandescent bulbs every few weeks. Another good energy saving tip if you are planning to renovate is to install a skylight. It will brighten up a dark room considerably and save a lot of energy. And even if you are not planning a major renovation, consider installing a skylight in a room where you spend a lot of time.

Save money by taking advantage of benefits your state offers

The heart of your home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system consists of three pieces of equipment: your furnace, your water heater and your air conditioner. If they are older than 10-12 years, their time is up. And the older the equipment, the less efficient and more expensive to operate. Of course, no one wants to spend money to upgrade something that still works. But if they ultimately fail, you’re in a tough spot. This will be the warmest or coldest time of the year. And if the technician tells you that your unit is damaged or that it’s not cost-effective to repair it, you need to hurry. You don’t have time for discounts or rebate programs. Do yourself a favor and check with your utility company to see if they offer any rebates or incentives for replacement. A plan is much less stressful, and you may be surprised to find that your expenses are much lower than you expected.

Here is an example of what might be available in your area

Our state of New Jersey offers a program called Save Green . This is an energy conservation program designed to encourage homeowners to upgrade their heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (boilers, water heaters and central air conditioners) to high-efficiency equipment. It is a fact that homes with high-efficiency appliances use less energy and save you a lot of money. The incentives for innovation are almost too good to ignore. They offer an instant rebate of $5,000 and an interest-free loan of up to $10,000, payable over 10 years. The cost is recovered through a surcharge on the monthly electricity bill. To participate in this incentive, the customer must agree to replace all three units – furnace, water heater and air conditioner – because the goal is to improve the efficiency of your entire system. If you only replace one or two units and leave a 15 year old unit running, the overall efficiency will decrease.

Typical discount program process:

You contact the company hosting the event – in our case NJ Resources – and sign up for the program, which takes just a few minutes. They will then ask you to request a quote from a participating contractor of your choice.
Almost all business owners in the area are aware of the program and participate in it because it means money in their pockets.
The contractor will come to your home to perform an energy audit, inspect the installed systems, and then provide you with a written estimate within one to two days. (This is where I noticed a big difference between the two entrepreneurs).
Once the contract is signed, you will receive a $5,000 rebate to cover your down payment with the contractor. That’s why most entrepreneurs get into the project – it’s a guaranteed deal.
The rest of the cost can be paid out of pocket or financed without interest over a 10-year period. To give you an idea of the effect on your gas bill: if you finance the maximum amount of $10,000, your monthly bill will increase by $83. This amount can also be paid in advance at any time.

Estimates received

The first criticism I received was from a company that had a strong presence in the area because of this program. I saw a lot of signs in the gardens in my neighborhood where they did routine work. He came in and looked at the layout of the house for about 15 minutes. Then he opened the ladders in both attics and shone a flashlight on them. He informed me that the house would benefit from the program, told me I would get an estimate, and then left. He was there for about 20 minutes total. My neighbor followed this program the year before and highly recommended his contractor. Their office was 45 minutes away, but I called for a second quote anyway. The second contractor showed me what a real energy audit of a house should look like. He checked every vent pipe, every check valve, the outside, the basement, my two attics (and not just with a flashlight), and then asked me to go with him to the attic. In the attic, he pointed out several pipes that were not the right size and explained how he would fix them. He noted that the insulation was inadequate and also pointed out places in the house where there were gaps of cold air near the bedroom walls. I was expecting 30 minutes max, but he was there for 90! The lesson I learned from this is that you shouldn’t take the first contractor you see or hire because he works a lot in your area. Take notes.

Typical value

Now to the point: my house was 18 years old at the time, and all three units of my HVAC system were in need of replacement. He gave me three estimates ranging from $14,000 to $16,000. Conclusion: The good, the best, the best of all. The quote included a new central air conditioner, furnace, water heater, programmable thermostat, all labor costs, new ductwork and new insulation in two attics. He will also hire another company that specializes in testing and waterproofing homes.

Do a job

The trial lasted three days. The first two days were spent installing and testing all the equipment, and on the third day the waterproofing company spent all day gluing one-inch foam panels to every square inch of our subfloor and to every wall in the attic that faces inward. He cut a hole in the wall of my daughter’s room, went through it and insulated the other side, then sealed the wall perfectly. They insulated all the pipes in the vulnerable areas. They replaced all the insulation in two attics, as well as several sections of the ductwork. They also checked the connection before and after all the work was done. This allows you to detect leaks in windows, doors, attics and other vulnerable places. This operation, which takes about 15 minutes, consists of closing all windows and sealing all air vents in the house with a plastic sheet. Then they attach a fan to the front door that is connected to the monitor. After surgery, you should see a marked improvement.

Take into account long-term perspective

There is no doubt that our home is more comfortable after a thorough energy audit and the switch to high-efficiency HVAC equipment. I shiver and remember our first winter here, sitting in hoods. But in addition to the immediate convenience (and lower bills), you may also want to look into some local rebate programs to account for the resale value of your home. Large appliances are one of the first things an inspector will look at. And if they expire, that’s enough to turn a potential buyer away. If you want to know if there is a similar program in your state, here is an interactive map of . Click on your state to view the available programs.

Total points

Don’t think that you can’t have a significant impact on your electricity bill. With just a few small changes, you can save hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs. First, assess the major components of your HVAC system. If they’re less than ten years old, you’ll probably need to make all kinds of adjustments to your home to make sure they work as efficiently as possible. Putting in new attic insulation can be a lot of work, but it’s a great way to lower your energy costs, and it’s something anyone can do. Turning off electrical appliances, installing a smart thermostat , sealing air leaks are all simple actions that will make a noticeable difference on your energy bills. Remember that sometimes a little effort can save you a lot of money .Investing in things like caulking, pipe or attic insulation, or a smart thermostat will more than pay for itself in the first year.

And you? Do you have any ideas on how to save energy in your home?

15 ways to save energy and money was the latest change: 14. February 2021 by [email protected].The price of electricity can be a shock to your household budget. The rising cost of this commodity is the result of several factors, including rising demand, the cost of maintaining the grid, as well as the cost of generating the electricity. However, you can reduce the cost to you as a consumer. Check out these 15 ways to save electricity and keep more money in your pocket.. Read more about how to save on electric bill in summer and let us know what you think.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are 10 ways to save energy?

Saving money and energy is about more than turning off the lights when you leave a room or unplugging unused appliances. It’s also about being conscious about how you spend your money. Energy and water costs can easily be reduced by making small changes, such as buying a more efficient dishwasher, installing a programmable thermostat, or doing some DIY plumbing work yourself. With energy bills on the rise, we’re looking for any way we can to save money on heating and cooling our homes. But how can we actually cut back on our energy usage? There are many easy ways to cut your energy bill, either by using less energy or by making your home more energy efficient. Here are 10 ways to save energy and keep more money in your wallet.

How can we save electricity?

Although it may seem like a small thing, every little bit of electricity that you save goes a long way. Maybe you only use a few light bulbs, or you keep the temperature on your thermostat low. Regardless, making small changes in your home can save you money and, more importantly, reduce your carbon footprint. We’ve compiled a list of 15 ways that you can start saving electricity today. It is certainly a good thing to save electricity. Every single household would love to save some extra money on the electricity bill. But how can we actually do that? Because we all know that some of the ways to save money on electricity are too expensive for most people. For example, solar panels cost $5000 and up, and a new refrigerator is not going to be cheap either. But that is not to say that there is no way to save money on electricity. Maybe not a lot, but still, some money.

What are 5 ways to save energy?

While energy prices are constantly rising, you can save money by investing in energy-efficient appliances and devices. Energy efficient light bulbs, for example, use a fraction of the electricity needed to power traditional incandescent bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer. This can save you up to $100 a year on electricity bills, not to mention the environmental benefits of using fewer fossil fuels. There are other easy changes you can make around your home, such as unplugging electronics when you’re not using them, as well as larger ones like replacing your old refrigerator with a new, more efficient model. Saving money can be tough in this economic climate, but it’s essential to making ends meet. Sometimes it can seem like there’s no way to cut back the everyday expenses, but with a little creativity, you can save money on so many things, from your energy bills to your grocery costs. Here are five easy ways that you can simplify your life and save money.

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