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The 21st century is all about technology and progress. In the past, we would have had a TV, refrigerator, and a few other minor household appliances that needed to be powered up on a daily basis. Today we have smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, TVs, kitchen and bathroom appliances, and a whole host of other gadgets, all of which require electricity. It’s not surprising then that, this combined with the growing cost of electricity, means that most of us are paying more for our electricity each month.
Our house was built in 1995. Since that time, efficiency standards have changed. So when we recently had a problem with our hot water heater, our plumber was kind enough to offer us a few efficiency tips that we can apply over our entire household. Here are a few of his suggestions:
Switch to CFL Bulbs
CFL bulbs are much better than the old incandescent bulbs when it comes to
conserving energy. On average CFL bulbs provide the household with
around 10,000 hours of bright light for just under $10.50; this is the
equivalent to seven incandescent bulbs costing $48 to power. Switching the bulbs in your home to CFL could mean a modest savings,
which will add up significantly over time.
Switch Electricity Supplier
Often, getting a better deal on your electricity could be as simple as
switching your provider, especially if you’ve been with the same company
for a long period of time. Customers switching to the likes of
American Power and Gas or ENGIE could cut their bills by 5-15 percent each month, depending on how
much they’re paying now. It’s worth at least looking into varying energy
costs across the board.
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Unplug Everything
If you are leaving your gadgets and appliances on standby, you are spending
way more money on electricity than you need to and you could instantly cut
your next bill by making an effort to pull the plug on anything you’re not immediately using. In fact,
you could save as much as $150 a year by simply unplugging instead of leaving your
electrical items on standby.
Buy Energy Star Appliances
Whenever one of your appliances stops working, and you need to buy a new
one, make sure that you replace it with an appliance that features the
Energy Star label. These appliances meet tough
standards for energy efficiency, so they will gobble up far less
electricity and cut your bills by as much as $600 once all of your
appliances are Energy Star rated!
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Have Your Air Conditioning Serviced
If you live in an area where air conditioning is necessary, it's a good idea to get your
AC unit serviced at least once a year. By ensuring that it is running at
its optimum, you could save as much as $65 per year, and you will feel the
difference inside your home too.
Keep Your Dryer Clean
This is one area most people don't consider. Removing any lint from your dryer’s ductwork at least every six months will help to increase its efficiency, which means
that you will use less energy to dry your laundry and could save as much as
$60 per year.
Do you run an energy efficient household? Do you have any tips that will
cut electricity costs even further?
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