Fed up with watching your hard-earned cash disappear into thin air every month?
Well, your wallet isn't the only one feeling the heat, utility bills are soaring across the nation and most people don't realize they have full control of the hemorrhage. Nearly 50% of Americans are feeling anxious and stressed about the rising cost of their utility bills at this exact moment in time.
Here's the brutal truth:
Tiny tweaks to how you consume energy at home can save you hundreds of dollars a year. The best part is that the majority of these changes cost ZERO dollars to implement.
Let's jump into 7 changes you can make today to significantly reduce your monthly household bills, starting with…
Why Your Energy Bills Keep Climbing
Low energy prices? Not going to happen anytime soon.
Your household electricity bill rose from an average of $115 per month in 2020 to $150 per month by 2024 -- that's a whopping 30% increase in just four years. Don't worry, if you're stressed about those increasing costs, you're in great company.
However, there's a silver lining to all of this…
Granted you have no control over energy prices, but what you DO have complete control over is how much energy you actually consume. That's right, energy efficiency is your golden ticket to slashing those monstrous utility bills.
Know Your Energy Consumption
Before you go off making changes, it's crucial to identify your energy consumption.
In excess of 50% of all residential energy consumption (51% to be exact) goes straight to heating and air conditioning. In other words, if you're a typical homeowner then you have an entire room dedicated to cooling and heating costs alone. That's where all your big money savings opportunities lie.
Want to get to the bottom of how much energy you're really using? Let's dive into how you can calculate your kWh so you can understand exactly what you're being billed for. Once you have a handle on your energy consumption patterns, then you can focus on the biggest energy vampires in your home.
For instance:
Since you know half of your bill goes on heating and cooling, then there's where you need to start.
Simple Changes To Reduce Energy Use
Believe it or not, the simplest energy efficiency improvements don't cost a dime.
Lower your thermostat a few degrees in the winter and turn it up in summer. This single tweak alone can save you tons on cooling and heating expenses.
Here are a few other no-cost changes you can make as we speak:
- Unplug gadgets when you're not using them
- Close doors on rooms you're not using
- Utilize natural sunlight during the day
- Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when they're full
- Switch off lights when you leave a room
- Close doors on rooms you're not using
- Utilize natural sunlight during the day
- Only run your dishwasher and washing machine when they're full
- Switch off lights when you leave a room
Simple as that…
Don't underestimate these little changes, over time they compound and turn into real savings.
Switch To LED Lighting
This may be the easiest energy efficiency upgrade you will ever do.
LED lights consume 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lightbulbs. Not only that but they last 25 times longer, which means less frequent replacements.
The math adds up like so:
The average household spends roughly 15% of their energy budget on lighting. By making the switch to LEDs, you can knock that cost down by three-quarters. Every single month your hard-earned cash is put back in your pocket.
And here's the best part? Installation involves nothing more than screwing in a new bulb. It's that easy.
Upgrade Your Windows
Rotten windows are draining your bank account.
Heat gain and loss through your windows are to blame for 25-30% of your home's heating and cooling energy consumption. In other words, a gargantuan chunk of conditioned air is escaping your home through your glass.
Replacing your old windows with energy-efficient windows will save your household an average of 13% on energy bills. The warmer and cooler climates see even greater savings.
The investment will pay for itself in spades over time via lower utility bills. Not to mention your home will be more comfortable year-round too.
Get A Smart Thermostat
Ready to make more money without even thinking about it?
Smart thermostats are like having your very own money-making personal assistant. No more heating an empty house or cooling rooms that nobody's using.
They can help save you roughly $100 annually just by optimizing when your heating and cooling units are running. These gadgets are also super simple to install too, most folk can do it in under an hour.
Seal Air Leaks
Your house is probably leaking money as we speak.
Gaps and cracks around doors, windows, and even electrical outlets let your hard-earned conditioned air escape. Sealing these leaks is one of the most cost-effective energy efficiency improvements you can make to your home.
All you need to do is:
- Apply weatherstripping to doors and windows
- Caulk your gaps and cracks
- Foam seal your electrical outlets
- Caulk your gaps and cracks
- Foam seal your electrical outlets
This entire project costs less than $50 in materials and can be knocked out in a single weekend. The energy savings begin immediately.
Upgrade To Energy-Efficient Appliances
Old appliances are like energy vampires.
Modern day appliances that are Energy Star-certified use way less energy than even 10-year-old models. If you're in the market to replace an appliance then always go for the most efficient model you can afford.
The average household can save you about $450 per year by choosing Energy Star appliances. That's real money that stays in your bank account instead of going to the power companies.
Refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers offer the most significant opportunities for savings since they run the most or frequently.
Maintain Your HVAC System
An ignored HVAC system works harder and costs you more to run.
Change the air filters every 1-3 months. Dirty air filters force your system to overwork, which bloats your energy bills. This straightforward maintenance chore can improve your system's efficiency by up to 15%.
Schedule professional maintenance annually too. A well-maintained system runs more efficiently and lasts longer, which in turn saves you money on both energy and replacement costs.
Wrapping Things Up
Getting to grips with energy efficiency isn't as difficult as you might think.
Start with the free changes -- lower your thermostat, unplug devices, and modify your habits. Once you've got those down, move onto low-cost improvements like LED lightbulbs and air sealing.
Key point to remember:
Energy efficiency is all about working smarter, not harder. Every improvement you make helps lower your household bills and in return also reduces your carbon footprint.
So all you have to do is start somewhere, pick one of the strategies above and start implementing it this week. Next month, add another one to your energy efficiency plans.
Before you know it, you will start to see real savings on your household energy bills and they will start to compound year after year.