Many people are worried about their electric bills soaring with the colder months upon us. It may seem to you as though you are just a typical electricity user and don’t really use any extravagant appliances around the house.
So then, why is your bill always so high? Well, you may not actually realize it, but certain devices use a lot more energy than you thought. We review some helpful tips on how you can save money on your electric bill for the next month.
Educate Yourself On What Home Appliances Use The Most Energy
Many people don’t really have a good sense of which of their home appliances use up a lot of energy. You might assume that the TV and the dishwasher take up the same amount of energy when they are being used for the same amount of time, but that is not true at all!
Typically, dishwashers, air conditioners, clothes irons, and deep freezers are the appliances using the most energy. Once you know which of your appliances use the most energy and subsequently raise your electric bill, you can work towards using them less often.
For example, you can adjust your thermostat when you aren’t at home for long stretches of time. Your home doesn’t need to be perfectly cooled or heated if nobody is going to be around.
You can also unplug various devices when they aren’t being used. For example, the air conditioner or the microwave doesn’t need to be plugged in all the time. Such devices continue to use up electricity and draw your bill up even when they aren’t turned on.
Switch Out Some Old Appliances For Newer, Energy Efficient Ones
Many of the old appliances in our homes have been around for decades. After all, it isn’t too often that you buy a new refrigerator or microwave oven. However, what you may not realize is that older appliances that were manufactured some ten or twenty years ago use up a lot more power than newer manufactured appliances.
If there are any appliances at home that have seen better days and that you have been contemplating replacing, this is your sign to go ahead and do it! Other than larger appliances, you should also switch out old light bulbs for new LED bulbs that use less energy and are also relatively cheaper to buy.
Take Advantage Of Your Utility Company’s Off-Peak Hours
Many utility companies offer lower rates for electricity during certain off-peak hours. These hours are usually earlier in the morning or later at night. You can run some of your more energy-consuming appliances during off-peak hours in order to cut down your bill.
For example, instead of running the dishes right after dinner in the evening, you can do it later in the night. You could also do your laundry in the mornings instead of the afternoon.
Many utility companies charge a minimum base rate, which means that you can only reduce your electricity bill so much. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t cut down on the bill by $20 to $50 at least.
