Why waste your money when you can easily save it? You can always put a little extra into savings for a rainy day, go on a small weekend trip, or buy those new shoes you’ve been looking at! Stop throwing away your money and follow our steps on how to save approximately $500/year on your electrical bill!
Of course, depending on the size of your house and other factors, the savings may vary.
Turn off your lights
Turn off your lights every time you leave a room. It seems obvious, but sometimes we forget! So many times I’ve left the lights on in a room, thinking I would come back to that room in one minute, but then hours go by and I never end up going back to the room — meanwhile the lights are still on. So, even if you’re leaving a room for just five minutes, turn the lights off!
Take advantage of the sun during the day. The sun is a free source of light, so open up those blinds and enjoy the savings.
For extra savings, switch to LED
Because they use significantly less energy compared to incandescent light bulbs, LED lights can have a noticeable impact on your energy bill. Switching to LED light bulbs can help the average home save about a $1,000 over a 10-year period. That’s roughly $8.33 a month for just a small change. In addition, LED light bulbs have better long term value: they last much longer than your traditional light bulb. The Department of Energy reports that a 60W incandescent bulb will last for around 1,000 hours, whereas a similarly-bright 12W LED bulb will last approximately 25,000 hours. So switch & save!
Hang your clothes to reduce your electrical bill
Let’s be real, you don’t really need to use the drying machine to dry your clothes. Yes, it’s convenient when you’re in a rush and need your clothes the same day. But, if you do laundry the day before you need to wear your clothes, you should be using a drying rack. It will save you money and it won’t shrink your clothes! Plus, if you want that fresh out of the dryer smell, just hang your clothes on the rack and place dryer sheets on them as they air out!
Pro tip: if you absolutely need to use your dryer, put a clean dry towel in with the items that need drying. This will make your items dry faster and therefore reduce the overall drying time, resulting in extra savings!
Use cold water for your laundry
About 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes toward heating water. By switching to cold water for an average of three loads per week, you could save up to $22 per year on your energy bill! The right temperature can not only prolong the lifespan of your clothes, but could also save you money.
Turn the water off
Everyone is guilty of sometimes leaving the tap running even though they’re not using the water. Like when brushing teeth, washing dishes, or shaving. All these small moments throughout the day where the tap is left on while we aren’t even using the water are really adding a big chunk of money to our electrical bills. So turn off the tap and save that extra money!
Use alternatives to the oven
A microwave, Crockpot, cooktop/portable burner, and air fryer are all great alternatives to an oven that will save you money on your electrical bill.
According to the CNET, it costs approximately 74$ yearly to use a microwave, whereas an electric oven costs around $182 (based on 365 hours of cooking).
Save by unplugging unused electronics
Standby power can account for 10% of an average household’s annual electricity use. Unplug unused electronics and save $50 a year! This hack can also increase the lifespan of your electronic devices: the more items you have plugged in, the more susceptible your devices are to damage through an unexpected power surge.
Manage the thermostat for extra savings
Did you know? Heating your home accounts for 41 to 63% of your total energy bill! If you have electric heat, lower your thermostat by two degrees to save 5% on your heating bill. Lowering it five degrees could save you 10%!
Save with refrigerator efficiency to save on your electrical bill
Keeping your fridge and freezer at the perfect temperature (so that your food still stays cold, but you’re not wasting extra money) is so important! The fridge should be between 2°C and 3°C and your freezer should be at -18°C. When moving food in or out of the fridge, don’t leave the doors open too long. The longer the doors stay open, the more cold air that escapes. As a result, your fridge needs to work harder to achieve the set temperature.
Move air more efficiently
Did you know? Air circulation requires 25% more energy when the vents are not totally clear. Make sure your vents are free of papers, files or office equipment, and that air is flowing well to make sure you’re not spending extra money on unnecessary energy being used.
In conclusion
Yes, this is a lot to take in, but if we practice these small changes every day, eventually they will become second nature and saving will be a lot easier! For an even deeper look into different ways to save on energy, check out this link.
Utilities can seriously increase your yearly bills. However, living in an apartment can be a lot more cost efficient and save you money on your electrical bill: utilities are much cheaper in a smaller spaces. Check out this blog post for other benefits of apartment living.
