Last year, the average American monthly electric bill was $115.49. For millions of people, this is too much money that could go towards other expenses.
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What would you do with extra cash per month?
By following some of these simple tricks, you can get a lower electric bill. Don’t throw away your money on wasted energy.
Fans and Open Windows
Running the air conditioning is one of the best luxuries in life during the summer. Unfortunately, it is also a costly measure.
Avoid having the air conditioner on at all times. When the temperature in the house gets to a comfortable level, turn off the air conditioner and use your ceilings fans to circulate the cool air.
In the evening, open windows to cool the home. You’ll get fresh air and your HVAC gets a break.
Air Dry
Whether you have a washer and dryer at home or go to the local laundromat, laundry is going to require energy consumption and money.
You can mitigate the cost by air-drying your clothes on a clothesline.
If you don’t have access to a clothesline outside, you can dry your clothes on a bathroom shower curtain rod or clothes rack. This also frees up the dryer in the case of an emergency.
Use a little less laundry detergent if you’re worried about the clothes being too stiff from air-drying.
Physically Block the Sun
Natural sunlight is great, but an extremely hot day warrants different actions. Block the sun with your curtains and shades to help keep your house cool.
You won’t need to use your fans or air conditioning as much if you can prevent the heat from starting in the first place.
If you have space and resources, plant trees strategically around your home. The trees will provide shade for your house and absorb the direct sunlight.
You can also go the other direction and get solar installers to put solar panels on your home and use the sun to power your home.
Energy Efficient Appliances
Once upon a time, energy-efficient appliances were only reserved for the wealthy. Now, it’s tough to find appliances that aren’t designated energy-efficient.
These appliances prevent you from wasting energy by having settings that allow for customized temperatures and usage.
If you don’t need the freezer to be at zero degrees Fahrenheit, set it for 25 degrees. This prevents the freezer from continually going to keep an extreme temperature.
Unplug the Time
There’s no reason to keep electronics plugged in when you go on vacation. This includes unplugging your coffee maker, microwave, and entertainment center.
It might seem like you have everything turned off, but these electronics will consume energy even if it appears they’re inactive. When idle these devices use energy to charge, display a time, or receive wifi.
Tricks for a Lower Electric Bill
Are you ready to start seeing smaller utility bills? You can start thinking about what to do with the extra money.
A lower electric bill should always be the goal. Make that dream happen by following these tips and saving your wallet.
Owning a home is a big responsibility. Keep reading the rest of our blogs to learn more about homeownership.
