How to Lower Your Energy Consumption and Save Big on Your Utility Bills

We all have bills to pay. If you’re connected to a local power grid, then your hydro bill is one of the main ones. It’s a direct reflection of your electricity usage, and you have a surprising amount of control over how big that bill will be on a monthly basis. No, you probably can’t survive using absolutely no electricity at all, but you can take steps to lessen how much you use, and thus lower your monthly bills considerably. Here are some of the best ways to do that. 

Monitor Your Bills

Monitoring your electricity bills provides 2 benefits. For one, if you see that your bill has spiked in a certain month, or has been going up, you may be able to pinpoint a behavioral change to figure out why. That way you can work to improve it for the future. The other benefit is that you can compare the rates you are getting with other providers. For example, if you are in Texas and paying 4.4 cents for every kilowatt you use with your current provider, you can compare electricity rates with Texas-New Mexico Power and get closer to 4 cents a kilowatt. Yes, we’re talking about cents, but they can add up over a month and a year. 

Insulation

Your insulation plays a big part in your energy usage and your energy conservation. Unfortunately, it’s an afterthought for a lot of homeowners. If your insulation is in good condition and doing its job, it will keep hot air from getting into the house. If you are running your air conditioner, it will keep the cool air from getting outside. Your air conditioner works by keeping your home at a constant temperature. If cool air is escaping, it will have to run longer and stronger to keep up. This can be a major drain on your energy usage. Making sure your home is fully insulated will go a long way towards lessening your energy bills. 

The same goes for your windows and doors. If you have cracks and gaps, then air is getting out and coming in. Make sure that your doors to the exterior are properly sealed, and don’t leave your windows open for extended periods when you are running your air conditioner. 

Unplug Appliances When Not in Use

You might not realize it, but most electronics and appliances are using power even when they are supposably turned off. This is so that they can be ready to turn on quickly when you need them. It might only be a tiny amount, but it can add up over time and amongst several appliances. It’s not practical to unplug your dishwasher, oven, or washing machine every time, but you can keep computers unplugged unless they are charging, and even lamps. Many modern televisions also have an energy saver setting that will cut the power to the set when they are turned off. This way, they will take longer to turn on, but it’s only for 20 seconds or so. Flat-screen televisions use up massive amounts of energy, so the more usage you can save, the better. 

Close the Fridge and Freezer

Do you, or maybe your kids, ever stand in front of the fridge wondering what to eat? Do you leave it open while you prepare your sandwich so that you can quickly put away the condiments? If so, you could be wasting a lot of energy. Much like your air conditioner, your fridge is designed to stay at a constant temperature. If you stand there for too long, it will work harder to compensate. If it’s only a few minutes, it’s probably not a big deal. However if you leave the door open overnight or when you go to work, you will not just have spoiled food, you will also incur the energy costs from a fridge sensing that it needs to cool your entire kitchen. 

Switch Out Your Bulbs

You save big by switching out your standard incandescent bulbs with CFL bulbs. Each bulb that you replace can save you close to $60 per bulb over time in energy usage. Not only that, but CFL bulbs last longer, so you won’t have to pay for replacements as soon. Not to mention the annoyance of having to change bulbs that are in difficult places to reach. Make sure that you choose Energy Star rated bulbs, as they have met the highest standards for energy conservation possible. 

Paying out the nose for utility bills is nobody’s idea of a good time. Luckily, there are ways that you can conserve energy and cut those costs. Not to mention the fact that energy conservation is better for the environment. It’s a win-win situation all around. Use these tips and make sure that you save as much energy, and money, as possible.