When we conserve energy in our household, we help reduce electricity consumption. Finding and implementing ways to lessen your household’s demand for electricity helps reduce CO2 emissions, and what’s more, you’ll also save money on your electric bills!
The best way to start saving on your electricity costs is to get smart with how you use power. Here are some simple ways to cut your current bills.
- Turn off and unplug light bulbs and appliances
This is probably the most basic rule in saving electricity. Leaving a lightbulb “on” or your cellphone charger unplugged might be relatively insignificant, but they can all add up.
Standby power can account for 10% of an average household’s annual electricity use. Take a good look around your house and watch out for the appliances on “standby” mode or are still plugged in, even unused. It can be your TV, game console, computer, or electric water dispenser. Many of these draw a small amount of electricity while waiting to be used.
For your light fixtures, you can be strategic with your window coverings and use natural light.
You can also use “task lighting” by installing table lamps and under-counter lights in work and hobby areas as well as in kitchens. They take up lower watts, saving you a considerable amount of energy. A reliable handyman in Corpus Christi knows perfect eco-friendly LED light bulbs and install some functional lighting in your home.
- Be efficient with refrigeration and laundry
Even though your modern refrigerator or washing machine and dryer may be marked energy-efficient, they still consume a lot of electricity every time you use it.
Keep your refrigerator at the ideal temperature. For your fridge, this is between 2°C and three °C, and your freezer should be at -18°C.
Also, think about how much cash you’re throwing away with each use of your laundry machine. One good trick to note is only to wash your clothes once a week or full loads all at once.
In this way, you can lessen the number of times you use the washer every week. By switching from hot to cold water for an average of three loads per week, you could save up to $22 per year on your energy bill.
You can also cut down energy by sun-drying your clothes, and if there’s no space for you to dry them, place it in a lower setting. It might take a lot of time, but it won’t take up too much energy.
- Install a programmable thermostat
Most people consume electricity throughout the day because they don’t want to go home to a “too hot” or “too cold”.
Because it is programmable, you can pre-set your home’s temperature at specific times of the day. This will also help reduce the need for air conditioning or heating to run when you don’t need it. For example, if you have a water heater that stores hot water, you can set a timer to heat it before your morning shower. Shorter showers will help too.
Programmable thermostats can save you up to 33% on your energy bill! You can purchase a great one for about $75, and they’re easy to install. Just let your local handyman help you out!
Whether you want to lower your electric bill or you’re concerned about your household’s carbon footprint, lessening energy use can help a lot. Implement some of our tips above to save electric bill in your household, and you’ll be able to make a difference before you know it.
