Utility bills can be costly. An average American spends up to $1400 annually on utility bills alone. The cost can significantly affect your lifestyle and leave you with less money each month. Thankfully, you can save substantial amounts of money on the same by changing your energy consumption lifestyle. Here are some practical tips to get you started.
Use Energy Efficiency Appliances
Energy-efficient appliances are eco-friendly and can help you reduce your monthly utility bills. Although they may have a higher upfront cost, they consume less energy than the standard models, significantly reducing energy bills.
You can get energy-efficient refrigerators, washers, dehumidifiers, and even air conditioners for your home. As EnergySaver points out, high energy-efficient air conditioners and other practical energy-reducing actions could reduce air conditioning energy use by 20% to 50%. When buying an energy-efficient appliance, ensure that it has an Energy Star rating.
Change Your Air Filters
Air filters in your AC unit trap dust and prevent it from being recycled. If the filters are old, then they will be slow and might not be effective in keeping off pollutants. The AC unit may consume a lot of energy because the filters are overworking.
Your home needs optimum cooling and heating for your good health and comfort. However, Energy Star says that nearly half of the total energy consumption at home is used in heating and cooling. So, clean your filters regularly, and replace them if they are old and clogged beyond repair to save your heating and cooling costs.
Turn Off Unused Lights and Electronics
This point might seem obvious, but it’s one of the most overlooked ways to save money on utility bills. Let everyone who comes to your house know the importance of switching off the used light and electronics. When you leave them plugged in, they continue to consume small amounts of energy, which adds up and could significantly increase your energy bill. Turn off what you’re not using to save money.
Invest in a Smart Thermostat
Your home needs efficient heating and cooling, but extreme heating or cooling when no one is in the house could waste energy. Investing in a smart thermostat is a great way to save on your heating and cooling expenses without too much human involvement. Smart thermostats sometimes allow you to set the ideal heating or cooling temperature for your house. This means the thermostat can automatically switch off at a specific time, even when you are not around. Besides, most smart thermostats are easy to program using your smart device, which makes it possible to switch on or off when you’re away.
Replace Your Roof
A roof does more than shield us from external weather impacts! Energy-wise, your roof choice can increase or decrease your energy bills, so choosing the most energy-efficient roofing materials is essential. The right roofing material could reduce up to 30% of your home’s energy costs, so you should consider a roof with excellent insulating features. Metal roofing is an energy-efficient option, but you can still consider other options according to your location. If your roof is old, then replace it as soon as possible because most energy-efficiency features tend to reduce with time.
Reduce Water Consumption
Reducing water consumption is not only great for the environment but for your pockets as well! When you reduce water use, pumping costs will be lower, so energy costs will decrease. Similarly, your water bill will be lower as well. You can save by identifying and fixing possible leaks, taking shorter showers, using water-saving shower heads, and using table heaters.
It’s easy to reduce your home’s monthly utility bills when determined to. Implement any or all of the above practices and start saving significant amounts. Don’t forget to educate other family members on following the above methods.
