“Winter is coming” as they say in the popular TV series “Game of Thrones.” While kids can’t wait to make a snowman and enjoy the snow in general, adults typically worry about the electricity bills coming their way, and for a good reason!
The cost of electricity is high throughout that time, and that’s not even factoring in the cost of heating, cooling, and providing hot water. According to the Energy Department, the annual utility bill for the typical American household is more than $1,400.
We’re here to tell you folks that with some minor adjustments, you could actually see a decrease in your monthly expense. Yay! So, if you’re looking for strategies to cut down on those annoying costs, try these:
Heating and cooling
The heating and cooling systems in your home use the most energy, and therefore provide the most potential for savings on your monthly utility bills.
First, make sure all of the seals around your windows, doors, and appliances are in good shape. Make sure your fridge and freezer are sealed tightly to keep the cold air inside. And that also applies to windows and doors. When energy is lost due to a faulty seal, your pocketbook takes the hit.
Second, patch the ducts that are letting in air. Fixing drafty HVAC ducts is a quick and easy way to increase the effectiveness of your heating and cooling systems.
Thirdly, prod your thermostat into action. When you go to bed or leave the house, reduce the temperature by 10 to 15 degrees. Spending just eight hours a year in this state will cut your heating and cooling bills by 10%. A thermostat that can be pre-set saves you time and effort.
Finally, regulate the temperatures within the fridge and freezer. The ideal temperatures for a refrigerator are 38 degrees and for a freezer are 0 to 5 degrees.
This means less work for your fridge and freezer to maintain safe temperatures for food storage. How great is that? If you’re curious to know more, follow this link https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-a-better-energy-deal/save-money-on-your-gas-and-electricity/.
Water
Did you know that The Energy Department reports that heating water for consumption is the second highest consumer of household electricity? Yikes! So, homeowners, listen up! You should reduce your energy consumption and save money by using less hot water for showers, laundry, and the dishwasher. Check out the tips we’ve explained below.
First of all, folks, you should definitely use less water in the shower. Why is that so? Well, you can save five gallons of water every shower by cutting back on your relaxing shower time. We understand that everyone wants to soak their problems away in the shower for as long as possible, but you want to save money on electricity right?
Next, we advise you to switch out your old showerhead. An interesting fact is that you can save about 2,700 gallons of water annually by switching to a more efficient showerhead. Oh, and be sure to look for the WaterSense label, which verifies that the product has met EPA’s efficiency standards.
Furthermore, using too hot water for laundry is another no-no. Reduce your laundry’s energy use by at least half by only using warm or cold water.
Oh, and you should mend a dripping your dripping sink if its causing you headaches. Not only that, but the constant dripping wastes a lot of water.
Last but not least, the water heater’s temperature should be changed as well. The average factory setting for a domestic water heater is 140 degrees. Bringing it down to 120 degrees can cut water heating costs by as much as 10%.
Planning a short trip out of town? To save money on your utility bills, set your water heater to its minimum temperature.
Power and lighting
No matter how much we love our lights, you should know, folks, that lighting and appliance use together consume about 11% of a typical home’s energy bill. What a bummer! But, don’t sweat it because there are some thing you can do to help your wallet not get emptier and emptier each month.
Upgrade your light bulbs once a year. By replacing the regular yellowish lights with brand new LED ones, you’ll definitely notice a smaller electric bill at the end of the month. Awesome, right?
Oh, another interesting option we want you to consider is to switch to dimmer switches. With the use of a dimmer, the lighting in a room may be adjusted to create the desired ambiance while also reducing energy use. Think of how amazing it would be to watch a movie or a TV show in a dimmed, cozy ambiance! Your loved ones and your friends will love it!
Let’s see, what else? Oh, you can make use of wireless power strips. In standby mode, some electronic devices continue to draw power, which can pile up over time and several gadgets.
Items with a remote control sensor require electricity while waiting for your input, hence these are typically remote-controlled devices. You can save energy by using a smart power strip to charge your electronics and then turning it off when you’re not using them.
But, let’s not forget about conducting an energy audit. To help you find even more methods to cut back on your energy consumption, several utility companies offer home energy audits, often at no cost to you.
Check phantom energy
Before you get confused, we’re not talking about phantoms, as in ghosts here folks! Ghosts will be the least of your problems once the electric bill arrives.
What we’re talking about here is something called “phantom energy,” which occurs when electrical devices continue to draw power long after being switched off.
Do you know what’s really terrifying? Leaving devices and appliances plugged in all the time, even when you don’t use them. You’re basically pouring money down the drain at this point.
So, if you want to cut down on your expenses, make sure all of your unnecessary (at the moment) devices and appliances are unplugged!
Adjust your fridge
“What does my fridge have to do with reducing power?” We’re so glad you asked this because this is yet another example of a minor adjustment that has a significant effect.
What you need to do is to check the fridge’s temperature settings first. The ideal temperature range for a refrigerator is 35–38 degrees. This method of adjusting the settings will ensure that your food is kept fresh without wasting energy on a constant cycle of cooling.
Keep your freezer well stocked
Who knew that the frozen meats and vegetables you bought before the epidemic would help you save money on your monthly electricity bill? It’s true that keeping your freezer full can help keep the temperature inside more constant.
The kicker is that… If your freezer is cold and stays cold, it won’t have to use as much power (or money) to maintain the desired temperature and keep your frozen foods frozen.
Change your energy provider
Times change and so do our opinions on different matters. What do we mean by that?
Well, it may be time to look for the billigste strømavtaler if you’ve seen a steady increase in your monthly rates. Do this ASAP, especially if you feel like your wallet can’t take another hit!
Switching providers could save you money if you find a lower offer offered to locals. On the other hand, if you have been with the same utility for years and are hesitant to switch for any reason, it may be helpful to gain some insight into the process.
Some locals worry that after an enticing promotional period, their prices will rise if they switch providers. But, a good thing to know is that many suppliers are honestly low-key open and honest about their pricing structures.
This openness has been sparked by the fierce competition between suppliers for the same pool of residential clients.