Save On Electricity Bill

The prolonged recession and difficult economic climate of the past several years has caused homeowners and businesses to consider ways to economize. Adopting a simpler lifestyle that limits unnecessary spending has become the norm for many people and looking for innovative ways to save money on monthly bills has become a new habit. There are many ways to save on your household’s electricity bill without dramatically changing your way of life.

Saving energy requires a combination of conservation and efficiency. To reduce your monthly electricity bill you first need to assess how much you are using and how much you are wasting. It is estimated that as much as 20% - 30% of the electricity used by the average household is lost through inefficiency. Making your home more energy efficient will help stem the tide of wasted electricity.

The first step is properly insulating and sealing the “shell” or “envelope” of your home. Walls, ceilings, floors, attics and crawl spaces should be inspected for adequate insulation. A thick layer of insulation will help your home retain warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer and prevent the outside air from infiltrating. A professional energy audit will reveal the hidden places where your home is lacking proper insulation. Depending on the amount of insulation you need and where you need it, you may need to hire a professional contractor to ensure proper installation and give you the maximum savings on your electricity bill.

Look for obvious cracks and holes around doors, windows, attic hatches, and other places where air is entering and escaping your home. Seal with caulk, weather stripping or insulating foam. Once your home is sufficiently sealed and insulated, you will notice savings on your electricity bill. To get even more savings, install programmable thermostats to regulate the indoor temperature. Just by lowering the temperature a few degrees in the winter and raising it a few degrees in the summer will add to your electricity conservation efforts.

Properly maintaining your heating and air conditioning systems is another way to lower bills and make your units more efficient. Regularly replace air filters and perform routine maintenance. These systems account for the largest part of your annual energy bill, so keeping them in top shape is well worth the time and expense. Make sure that the area around the air conditioning compressor is free from debris, grass and weeds. Cleaning the fan blades seasonally will also increase efficiency and extend the life of the unit.

Simple conservation practices like turning off lights when you leave a room and unplugging electronic devices like computers and monitors, televisions and small appliances when not in use are ways to save money on electricity bills. Using task lighting rather than illuminating the entire room is a good habit which will add to savings over the long haul. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) will reduce your electricity demands and lessen the frequency with which you have to replace bulbs.