At Solar.com, our team is always looking out for ways to save you money on your electric bill. Here are 10 tips to help you out.
1. Install LED Light Bulbs
One simple trick you can do to lessen your bill is to install LED lighting! While the upfront cost of LED bulbs is slightly higher, they use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs and they last up to 20 years longer.
2. Do Your Laundry After 8 PM
Some power companies offer discounted rates during the evenings. Call your provider to see if they offer discounts in your area. Doing your laundry and washing your dishes uses a lot of energy. If you can do it during discounted hours, it will be a big-time money saver.
3. Caulk Those Cracks
One of the biggest energy wasters throughout homes is the air/heat that escapes through window cracks or holes in the home. Caulking your window sills and any holes (i.e. from pipes or cables) will keep the air/heat in your home and dollars in your wallet.
4. Unplug, Unplug, Unplug
Did you know that even when your electronics are turned off (TVs, cable boxes, gaming systems, DVD players, etc.) they keep using power? This energy usage can be roughly 10% of your monthly bill. Simply unplug your electronics when you aren’t using them to save.
5. Go Solar and Save $3,400 a Year
Your solar bill will be lower than your monthly electric bill. With scheduled rate increases across the country (Northern California rates jumped 21% in 2016), you are looking at $50,000 in lifetime savings. Just look at the image on the left to see the comparison between electric bills and solar bills over a span of 20 years.
6. Get a Programmable Thermostat
With programmable thermostats more affordable than ever, this is a great investment if you want a significantly lower electric bill every month. Based on your family’s routine, you can program the temperature to be a little higher in the summer and a little colder in the winter when no one is home.
7. Replace Your Air Filters Monthly
One thing you want to stay on top of is changing your air filters. This can easily save you money month-after-month. Dirty filters restrict the flow of air causing your system to run longer to meet the temperature on the thermostat. Set a reminder on your phone, and change them every month!
8. Fans Over A/C
Using a portable fan or ceiling fan will allow you to save on A/C. Turn up your thermostat a few degrees and let the fans do the rest. During the summer make sure your blades are running counterclockwise to push the air down to cool you off – clockwise in the winter will keep the heat circulating in your house.
9. Cook With Your Lids On
One of the greatest cooking hacks to save you money is cooking with lids. Whenever you can cover your food while you cook, do it! This will get your cooking done faster which will get the stove off sooner but also an uncovered pan or pot can increase the temperature in the house which will make your A/C work harder!
10. Insulation
Insulation is essential. You are already paying a fortune to heat and cool your house through. The last thing you want is your hard earn dollars sneaking through the cracks and poorly insulated parts of your house. To make sure you are getting the most for your dollar make sure your attic, water heater, windows, etc. are properly insulated.
That concludes our 10 tips to help you save on your electric bill. If you are looking for more tips or want to consider a money saving alternative, like solar, we encourage you to speak with one of our solar educators to help answer any questions you may have. Click here to get started.
