The 10 Easiest Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill
Depending on the state you live in, your electricity bill may run anywhere from $200 to $400 per month. Multiply that by 12 and the amount you spend a year is shocking! The pandemic has impacted people in many different ways and being more aware of the rising electricity costs is only one of them.
Not everyone can afford to spend that money on their electric bill though, especially with the holiday season right around the corner. Money can get tight quickly, so it’s helpful to know different ways to save on your electric bill; and we have you covered! Some ways to save are simply changing up your habits, others include switching up appliances to things like tankless water heaters for example.
#1: Use Your Dishwasher The Smart Way
If you weren’t aware, there are several ways to reduce your electricity bill with some simple and small tweaks to your dishwasher habits. First, make sure to not wash your dishes by hand, but to use the dishwasher in the first place. Instead of letting the dishwasher dry your dishes, let them air dry by themselves. Even the smallest tweaks like changing how you load your dishwasher to ensure cleanliness can make a difference in your energy bill.
The California Energy Commission estimates that by using a dishwasher’s air-dry setting, between 15% and 50% of energy can be saved. Additionally, ditching the hand washing and moving to the dishwasher altogether again can cut your energy bill down by $40 a year. This may not seem like a significant amount, but all the small amounts add up quickly.
#2: Consider Switching To Energy-Efficient Appliances
Thankfully, in today’s environmentally friendly consumer market, there are many alternatives to the mainstream that not only save on energy from the sustainability perspective but also offer great cost savings when implemented for the consumer. Some switches that can make a difference, are switching to LED lightbulbs (on average they use only 25% of the energy a regular one does), using motion detectors for your lighting, or considering getting a tankless water heater.
#3: Change Up your Kitchen Habits and Cooking Appliances
There are simple tips and tricks you can implement in the kitchen to save money. If you are single, live alone, or simply tend to not cook extravagant meals, consider opting for smaller appliances like toaster ovens. If you have a regular oven, then keep the doors closed until you’re ready to take out your food.
The California Energy Commission also estimates that by turning your burners off slightly before your food is done being cooked, you will also be able to reduce costs. The burners take time to turn completely off anyway and will stay warm for a while, so your food will still keep cooking – no worries!
#4: Turn Things Off When You’re Not Home Or Not Using Them
This tip applies to all things – appliances, light switches, etc. When you leave a room or your house, make sure to turn all the lights off. When going on vacation make sure you have the lights off as well. Before you go to bed, unplug all your electronics and any appliances you can. Many people don’t realize that even when you’re not actively using electronics, they do use up electricity. This in particular could save you up to $100 a year.
Turn your thermostat down when you’re out of the house. Simply by adjusting it, the Department of Energy estimates that you could save approximately 10% of your heating and cooling costs just by implementing this small habit.
#5 Consider Using Energy Redevelopments For Your Home
There are so many opportunities to reduce your energy consumption by having interventions in a building. These can include solar panel installation, thermal installation, or even incorporating a tankless water heater. Over time these can add up significantly in reducing your cost.
#6: Keep Your Refrigerator and Freezer Temperatures Up
Something small you can do is simply change your refrigerator and freezer settings slightly. They run at certain temperatures on their own but by changing the temperature to a few degrees higher, the vegetables can still remain fresh, and you don’t have to worry about any food waste, but the engine will only have to work a fraction as hard. This can also add up over time.
#7: Check Your Windows And Doors
Sometimes there can be air leaks stemming from not tightly sealed windows or doors. This can therefore cause your home to feel significantly colder than it should with properly sealed windows. It’s extremely important to get these checked, so you don’t end up turning up the heat in response.
#8: One Word (Well, Two) – Ceiling Fans
One way to reduce costs is to have ceiling fans installed. Ceiling fans allow for cooler air and temperature in rooms without the exuberant electricity costs. They’re also quite inexpensive to purchase and install, making it a savings overall.
#9: Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance
By checking maintenance on your appliances regularly, you can save significant money. Unplug your freezer to defrost for a month – that’s helpful to do even if you’re NOT interested in saving money. Make sure all your appliances are running as efficiently as possible by having maintenance checks or replacing filters.
#10: Get A Tankless Water Heater
When you originally get a quote for the installation of a tankless water heater, you may question the validity of it saving you money on your electric bill. But tankless water heaters are more of a long game kind of win rather than instant gratification. Tankless water heaters help you save money by conserving energy from not reheating water over and over again.
In fact, tankless water heaters are known to save 24-34% less energy than traditional ones. According to Energy Star, expected savings can run up to $100 per year with this tankless water heater installation san diego. If you’re looking for a good quality model, we can highly recommend the Noritz Tankless Water Heater found here.
Final Words/Summary
Cutting costs can often seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Saving on your electric bill doesn’t require a complete overhaul or sitting in the dark eating your dinner every night wrapped in blankets due to a lack of heater. Savings can stem from small changes in your everyday habits, as well as implementing or switching over to energy-efficient appliances like Arnett’s Tankless Water Heater, which is no big investment at all.