One of the biggest expenses every homeowner needs to pay each month is their electric bill. And with energy costs always on the rise, it’s getting worse each year.
But the biggest problem isn’t paying for the electricity we use; it’s paying for wasted electricity. In fact, a significant portion of all energy used in residential buildings is wasted.
Not only are we wasting the precious resources we have available, which is terrible for the environment, but it is wasting our hard-earned money. Luckily, it’s not hard to reduce your electricity bill.
With a few easy home improvement projects, your house could become far more energy-efficient, helping you to cut the electric bill by 75 percent.
Wondering how to reduce electricity bill? Keep reading to find out now.
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Upgrade Appliances
The appliances in your home make up most of your electricity use. If your appliances are old, outdated, and in disrepair, they are wasting electricity each and every time you turn them on.
Consider upgrading your appliances, such as your dishwasher, refrigerator, washer, and dryer to modern, energy-star certified models for maximum efficiency. You’ll notice an immediate impact on your electricity bill.
And you may even qualify for tax rebates for making an energy-efficient home upgrade.
Switch to LED Lightbulbs
The lights are on in your home almost all day, every day. Older, incandescent lightbulbs use a ton of power. Plus, they don’t last very long, meaning you have to replace them frequently, wasting even more money.
Instead, spend a few extra dollars on LED lightbulbs, which can last way longer than incandescent bulbs and use only a fraction of the electricity. When you make the switch, you may never have to replace the lightbulbs.
Open Up the Windows
Instead of using lights during the day, just open up the curtains and blinds in your home. Let the natural light from the sun illuminate your home during the day so you don’t have to use lightbulbs as frequently.
Reduce Your Electricity Bill With Skylights
Another way to brighten up your home without the use of lights is by installing skylights. These rooftop windows can be added to bedrooms, bathrooms, and anywhere else that natural light will be beneficial.
Installing skylights in the bedroom also gives you the added benefit of improving your sleep cycle. By exposing yourself to light from the sun in the morning, you can restore your body’s natural circadian rhythm.
Install a Programmable Thermostat
Every home needs to replace its old thermostat with a modern, programmable, smart thermostat. These are one of the greatest inventions in recent years.
Instead of just turning your HVAC on or off, you can set the exact temperature you’d like your house to be set to. You can also control your thermostat from your phone if it’s connected to WiFi.
This lets you control your HVAC system from anywhere. So if you left home for the day, but forgot to turn the AC off, you can do so while you’re on the road.
Then, when you are on your way back, you can turn it back on so your home is at a comfortable temperature by the time you arrive back home. With a smart thermostat, you can also set a custom schedule to automatically adjust the temperature at different times of the day, to match your work and sleep schedules.
Plus, these are often installed for free by your local utility providers. Contact your local utility company to find out what programs they are offering.
Add Motion Sensor Lighting
No matter how much we want to save money, most people will never remember to turn the lights off when leaving the room. Luckily, modern technology can do that for us.
With motion sensor lighting, you can have lights in your home turn off after a few minutes of no activity in the room.
Tint Your Windows
While sunlight is extremely helpful during the day, particularly since you don’t have to turn on lights, the sun’s rays are also damaging. The ultraviolet (UV) rays coming through your windows can heat up your home, causing your air conditioner to work harder.
Plus, UV rays can cause discoloration to your flowing and furniture, and damage electronics.
But with tinted windows, the film will reflect UV rays away from your home, keeping your home from overheating. And during the colder months, the window tint can also keep warm air inside, again saving money on energy costs.
Not only that, but window tinting can add an element of privacy and security to your home. Visit https://lccustominteriors.com/ for more info on tinting your home’s windows.
How to Reduce Electricity Bill Tricks and Tips
While there are home improvement projects you can do to lower your electric bill, there are also simple habits you can build that can do the same.
For example, it helps to only wash your laundry when you have a full load. Doing multiple smaller loads throughout the week is very inefficient.
If you can, try to hand dry your laundry as much as possible, as dryers use a ton of electricity. Hairdryers also use a ton of power. Forgo the hairdryer and let your hair dry naturally.
Did you know that many electrical appliances and devices use power when they are plugged in, even when they are powered down? This is known as phantom power.
While each individual device uses only a tiny amount of phantom power, it adds up across all your devices. One tip is to plug multiple devices into a power strip. Then, at night, or when you are away from the home for a day, just unplug the single power strip instead of each separate device.
One Upgrade at a Time
Now that you know how to reduce your electricity bill, it’s time to take action. Focus on one small project per week, and your home will be ten times more energy efficient in just a month or two.
With just a little extra effort, you can be on your way to hundreds of dollars of savings per year.
Looking for more tips like this? Be sure to visit our blog today to keep reading.
