13 Easy Ways to Lower Your Energy Bills
It seems that the theme of our times is “everything costs more,” and our energy bills are no exception. Utility companies across the country are planning to raise their prices (which are already high), and the cost of electricity and natural gas could rise even more in the coming months. If you’re already struggling to pay your utility bills, this is bad news, and you’re probably already doing the basics to keep your bills under control (programming your thermostat, turning down the air conditioner, etc.).
If that’s not enough to cut your bills, there are a few simple things you can do around the house to cut your energy costs even further. All it takes is a little thoughtfulness and a few small lifestyle changes, and you can save a surprising amount of money on your next utility bill.
Unplug appliances
Your home is full of “ energy vampires ”: appliances that constantly drain electricity, even when they’re not in use. While some of these vampires should be plugged in at all times, unplugging devices and appliances when they’re not in use can impact your energy bills — by up to $100 a year . That’s not a ton of money, but unplugging things like TVs, coffee makers, printers, and more when you’re not actively using them is a small inconvenience that’s worth the reward.
Reduce the amount of detergent
Think about how you do your laundry. Do you just mindlessly pour in detergent? Then you’re not only wasting detergent (which costs money to replace), you’re wasting energy. Using too much detergent in your washing machine makes the machine work harder, uses more water, and may even require additional loads to get rid of that slippery, slick, overly soapy feeling.
You can look up the recommendations for your particular washing machine, but as a general rule, less is more when it comes to detergent. A tablespoon of liquid detergent or a quarter cup of powder per load is plenty. You can experiment by starting with the smallest amount of detergent and seeing how it goes until you find the minimum amount that gets your clothes clean.
Wash in cold water
While some loads of laundry may turn out better if you wash them in hot water, these days you can wash almost everything in cold water, and it can save you a lot on your energy bills. About 90% of the energy your washing machine uses is heating the water, so there’s no doubt that washing as many loads of laundry as possible in cold water will make a dent in your bills.
Clean the refrigerator.
An easy way to reduce your energy consumption is to give your refrigerator a thorough cleaning. A refrigerator filled with expired condiments and old leftovers won’t have the airflow it needs to cool effectively, and a dirty refrigerator with clogged vents and dirty coils will work much harder to keep everything cool. You should be cleaning your refrigerator regularly anyway (every few months, or any time you’d be embarrassed to have guests see the state of it), so if you’ve been neglecting this appliance, your energy bills are a good reason to get it done.
Check your filters
Your air conditioners, furnaces, and other appliances are equipped with air filters that trap particles, debris, and pet hair inside their mechanisms. If you haven’t cleaned or replaced these filters in a while, your appliances may be running too hard and too hot, using up more energy. Change these filters regularly (or at least clean them) to make sure you’re not wasting money — for example, replacing the air filters on your furnace can save you $150 a year .
Avoid heat-generating appliances
Every appliance you use generates heat as a byproduct, called “waste heat.” If you stand close to your TV or the back of your refrigerator, you’ll feel this passive heat, and appliances like dishwashers and dryers use heat to dry your dishes and clothes. And then there’s your oven, which is obviously designed to generate heat.
All that heat has to be dealt with when you’re trying to keep your home cool, so using these appliances less often or at different times can help save energy by making it easier to cool your home. Using heat-generating appliances (like your oven or dishwasher) at night when it’s cooler, and using alternative appliances (like using a microwave instead of an oven when possible) reduces the amount of waste heat your HVAC has to pump out.
Hang your laundry outside to dry
If you’ve ever used solar power to charge anything, you know that it’s literally energy from the sky that you get for free. You don’t need fancy gadgets to use it, either – if you’ve just finished doing your laundry, hang it up to dry on a clothesline or a drying rack in the sun instead of turning on the dryer. Using a clothesline can save you up to 20% on your energy bills .
Extra tip: Don’t leave clothes in the dryer for hours (or days) or they’ll turn into a wrinkly mess that you’ll have to dry or iron again, wasting extra energy. If you take your freshly dried clothes out right away and fold or hang them up, you can avoid this scenario.
Use the dishwasher.
If you think washing dishes by hand is cheaper because it doesn’t require electricity, think again. A relatively new dishwasher will use less than half the energy of washing dishes by hand, and it will also use much less water. It seems counterintuitive, but using a dishwasher will reduce your energy bills and save you money (and save water at the same time).
Clean the vents
Whether you’re heating or cooling your home, a central ducted system means there are vents throughout your home that deliver cool or hot air to each area. If these vents are blocked by furniture or other home decor (like heavy curtains), they won’t be able to do their job well. Your heater or air conditioner will have to work harder to maintain the temperature, using more energy. Checking your home to make sure all of the vents are clear will save you money in the long run.
You should also avoid closing vents. If, for example, there is a room or area in your home that is much hotter than the rest of the house, you might think that closing the vent will help, but most HVAC systems are designed for a specific area, and closing the vents can upset the balance of that area, resulting in lower efficiency and higher costs.
Install motion sensors
Leaving lights on in a room you’re not using is just a waste of electricity from the grid and money from your bill. We all forget to turn off lights from time to time, and sometimes you need lights to stay on until you leave a room so you can see where you’re going. The US Energy Information Administration estimates that lighting accounts for about 6% of household energy use , so leaving lights off for as long as possible can have a big impact on your bills. Installing motion sensors where possible can help because you don’t have to think about them: the lights turn on when you’re using the room and turn off when you’re not.
Use blackout curtains
In warm weather, your home heats up in a number of ways. One of these is solar heat—the sun’s energy that shines through your windows, turning your home into a sauna. Heavy, thick curtains can block sunlight and reduce heat gain by as much as 33% , making it easier (and cheaper) to cool your home.
Turn off the water heater.
If you’ve never paid attention to your water heater’s thermostat, now is the time. If it’s set higher than 120º, you’re wasting energy . Not only does a higher setting increase the risk of scalding, it’s also hotter than you probably need, costing you an extra $61 a year.
You should also consider insulating your water heater . If it’s warm to the touch, it’s generating heat and working harder to keep the water hot. By wrapping it in an insulating blanket, you can save up to 16% on your water heater’s operating costs.
Use energy during off-peak periods
You can also contact your utility company to see if they offer an “off-peak” or “ time of use ” plan. Under these plans, electricity costs more during peak times when people use it a lot — like midday on a hot afternoon — than during off-peak times (at night, when the temperature drops and the air conditioners are off). If you stick to a strict schedule and only use your appliances during off-peak times, you can save up to 40% on your energy bill.