It’s getting warmer out! If this statement makes you cringe, it’s most likely not the climate and the impact the warmer months have on your electric bills. One of the main reasons that can keep you from enjoying the spring or summer is that you have to dig deeper in your already dented pockets to pay more in utility bills. This should not be the case. The term “saving energy saves money” is true to the sense and there are more ways you can cut down your electricity bills. Going solar will definitely save on electric bills during winter; but here are some of the other tips on how to stay cool this while saving on your electricity bills.
Don’t Set Your Air Conditioner Below 68
Did you know that setting your air conditioner below 68 degrees forces it to work 50% harder? That’s 50% more of a cost to you. Try to maintain the temperature in your home between 68-72 degrees for optimal spending.
Pack Your Dishwasher Full
Ensure that you fill your dishwasher to the fullest before you turn it on. Research shows that dishwashers use less energy when full. You will also notice that your dishes become cleaner when you fill up your dishwasher and they also use less water to do the job.
Work On Your Showerhead & Water Tank
You can adjust your showerhead to a low flow which will require less heat to warm the water. You can go further and insulate your water tank to save energy. This way, you can set your thermostat a few degrees lower and you will not notice a difference in your shower water.
Clean Your Refrigerator
You need to regularly clean your refrigerator’s condenser coil to improve its efficiency. A dirty coil means your refrigerator is using more power to cool off. Better yet, you can invest in an energy efficient refrigerator compressor which has better insulation.
Also, you can check whether your refrigerator is using too much power by shutting if off and recording the number of power units you consume on that day. Put on the refrigerator the next day and record the units as well. Check the difference on the number of units to find out how much your refrigerator uses per day.
Time It Right
Are you aware that electricity heavy activities like laundry use up a lot of energy during the day than during the night? This is actually true and it can save you a whole lot more money to do your laundry very early in the morning or at night. Set a timer to remind you to do your laundry before 7am or after 10pm to save on electricity bills.
Repair Those Cracks
Right before winter sets in, you need to check your house for any cracks and ensure that you repair them. During summer, your house can lose a lot of cool air around the spaces between windows and you end up using too much electricity to keep the house cool. You can invest in insulated windows panes to reduce heat loss in your home.
Turn Off Appliances Appropriately
Ensure that you turn off appliances that are not in use around your home. Check that you unplug electrical appliances like TVs. Some appliances continue to consume power even after switching off the appliance itself. It may seem like it’s not much but these appliances end up using too much electricity at the end of the day.
Consider Solar Energy
Solar energy can be tapped to supplement some or most of your energy needs and thus reduce your dependence on the expensive electricity from the grid. While this might involve some up-front costs for installation and maintenance, the cost savings from tapping into solar energy can be incredible in the long run.
There are various options when it comes to using solar energy and the options you take will have an effect on how much money you save on your energy bill. You can have a stand-alone off-grid configuration where energy from installed solar panels is used only during daytime to power certain elements such as heating water or water pumps.
You can also have a configuration whereby your solar energy system is tied to the grid and compliments periods of grid outages; or even configurations where unused solar energy is sent back into the main grid. Regardless of the system you choose, solar energy has the potential to give you considerable savings on your electric bill.
