Start Saving Big on Electricity This Winter
Think about this number: $1,248.
That’s how much the average American household pays every year for the juice that keeps their lights on, their appliances running and their hot water flowing. You could take a vacation in Europe with that kind of cash, and a nice one at that. It should have you thinking a little bit about your usage.
You can’t cut that bill down to $0, but you can slash it significantly and have a bit more money in the bank account for things you’d rather spend it on. Our guide offers ideas on how to do that, but keep in mind that if your heating systems are out of date or in ill repair, you can save money in the long term by making a small investment in hiring a heat pump technician who will ensure your home’s heating is in tip-top shape this winter and in the years to come.
Switch Lights Off
You may have heard the myth that turning lights on and off repeatedly uses more electricity than just leaving them on. There is a little bit of truth to that, but just a little bit. CFL bulbs do require a slightly greater amount of energy to start up each time, but it’s negligible. The general rule of thumb is to turn off lights if you’re going to be gone for 15 minutes or longer.
Use Motion Sensors
With these bad boys, you don’t even have to remember to switch lights on and off as it happens automatically. However, they consume a small amount of energy themselves, so it doesn’t make sense to use the sensors in every room of the house. Where they can save a bundle are in low-traffic areas where you’re prone to leave lights on for a long time and forget about them, like the basement.
Let the Sun In
Before even flipping the switch, open the curtains, blinds or shades, and make the best of natural light, which is always free. It just might be enough to get around during the day and into the evening. Reader’s Digest recommends installing mirrors and employing light colors in your decor to make the most of the sun.
Switch to LED Bulbs
They cost more than incandescent or CFL bulbs. However, they use only between one-third and one-thirtieth the amount of energy, according to Eartheasy, which amounts to significant savings over the course of their lifetime.
Take Short Showers
You may think this only applies to saving water, but not if you like it hot. The water heater needs juice to do its job, and that typically makes up about 17 percent of the electricity bill, according to an article in the Washington Post. Knock that down a notch by shortening your showers to a few minutes.
Do Laundry on the ‘Cold’ Setting
Take this action for the same reason that you take shorter showers. That water needs energy to get hot, and in most cases, that’s not even necessary, at least not for those day-to-day loads that aren’t packed with heavily-soiled clothing.
Run Full Loads of Laundry
When it comes to laundry, it’s not just heating the water that sucks up energy, but running the washing machine itself. If you are going to do a load, make sure it’s full so you get the most for your money.
Hang Up Clothes to Dry
That dryer is an energy suck, taking in 2,790 watts per hour of use, and costing almost $105 per year on average. The solution here is simple: Stop using it. Though it takes more time, you can hang wet clothes up on a line, and as an added bonus, they’ll smell fresher.
Install Solar Panels
How much you’ll save depends on the cost of the system and where you live. You’ll get an excellent return on investment, and in some states, you could save over $30,000 in energy over a 20-year period.
Get Smart
That means gaining control over the lighting system and appliances in your home via your laptop and smartphone. You can program timers to make sure the lights go out exactly when you want them to as easily as you can set your alarm clock.
By taking these measures, you’ll not only save money, but help the environment as well. That’s just one more reason to wise up and cut back on your electricity usage this winter and beyond.
Image via Pexels.
