5 Simple Tips To Cut Down Your Monthly Energy Bill

Who wouldn’t love saving money, especially when it’s oh-so-easy? This post will cover 5 simple ways to cut down your monthly electrical expenses without feeling the pinch at all.

Take a few minutes to read (or even skim) this post, and your future piggy bank will be fat and super thankful.

• Do Chores During Off-Hours

Did you know that energy costs are often different depending on the time of day? Luckily, both early birds and night owls are able to reap from these off-hours. Companies generally charge less for energy used between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM since there’s an overall decrease in demand during these times. For tasks that can be held off until early morning or late at night, using this tip can save you quite a bit in the long run.

You’ll just want to make sure that your electricity provider operates on time-of-use rates (which is what helps you make savings) and not flat rates. Also, if you want to figure out off-hour times for your region and during specific seasons, this article is a great resource.

• Throw Dryer Balls Into the Dryer

Yup, it’s as easy as throwing a few inexpensive dryer balls into the dryer. I mean, it takes about 3 seconds to do! These wool (and sometimes rubber) balls retain heat in the dryer and bounce around to keep clothes from clumping. Ultimately, the additional heat and improved airflow speeds up drying and saves you money.

Dryer balls also have the additional benefit of softening fabric, meaning they can easily replace dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener.

• Unplug Appliances That You Aren’t Using

Breaking news, there’s a phantom out there stealing your electricity! Just kidding, but there is a term known as “phantom energy” which steals between 10% and 33% of your electricity each month. That’s electricity you’re paying for but not using in any way. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to get rid of phantom energy consumption. Unplug your appliances when they aren’t in use. Our tip is to plug all your lamps, washers, dryers, fans, etc. into a power strip and just unplug that strip when you aren’t using your appliances. This makes unplugging appliances hassle-free and efficient.

• Install a Programmable Thermostat

Face it, life gets busy and sometimes there’s no time to worry about the temperature settings of your home. But, heating and cooling make up 42% of your total electricity bill according to the EPA. Often, our homes are heated or cooled when we’re asleep or even completely away from our homes. That’s why a programmable thermostat is a great asset. You’ll be able to control when and how your home’s temperature operates on a daily basis automatically. Plus, a basic programmable thermostat is all you need and they’re relatively inexpensive.

• Ask For An Energy Audit

If you don’t know why your energy bills are so high, an energy audit can help you spot problem areas and offer you advice to reduce costs. Most utility providers can conduct energy audits, and some even offer the service for free.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-save-money-on-your-electric-bill