Simple Ways to Reduce Energy Costs

In spite of media reports that economy is on the mend and average American is seeing more money getting into their pockets, most people still want to live frugally and watch their expenses. There are some things you can’t escape when it comes to bills and costs, your utility or energy costs being one of them.

Keeping the lights in your house on, or keeping the house warm is a standard part of any monthly budget, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could get that bill lowered?

If you can tweak your electric usage, you could lower the bill by 25%. If you really want to cut down your dependency on the power grid, you can invest in rooftop solar panels.

Because of the worry that resources are being drained by global population, several areas are trying to force a change. California is trying to make solar power a requirement for its residents, hoping to reduce taxation in the power grids.

You don’t have to spend money to invest in solar energy to make a change and save money. Consider these easy ways that can surely help lower your energy bills.

It is estimated that an average family spends about $2,000 a year on the utility bill, and heating and cooling costs are some of the biggest factors of a monthly bill. Therefore, it is one of the best areas to start when it comes to cost-cutting opportunities.

Make sure seals of doors, windows, and appliances are tight and without tears. The fridge and freezer seals need to be strong to keep enough cold inside, but the same goes for doors and windows. If you have a bad seal, the inside air can seep out, forcing your unit to work longer.

If you are going to be away from home for long time, lower your thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees to help reduce your overall expenses. When you are sleeping, choose to keep the temperature in your room lower than what you would typically have during the day.

Invest in a programmable thermostat to help you manage the times of the day or week where you can cut back on your heating or cooling demands.

Just like you can adjust your air temperature without significantly impacting your comfort level, you can also adjust the temperatures in your refrigerator and freezer. By setting your freezer to around 5 degrees and the fridge to 38 degrees, you will still be preserving food with the appliance not working hard to maintain the temperature.

Having plenty of hot water for your morning shower or evening dish washing is wonderful, but hot water is the second-largest energy expense in most homes. If you can cut back on how much hot water you use, you can make a dent in your energy bill.

A hot shower is a luxury, but then it can add up in costs. If you take two minutes off your shower routine, you can save almost 10 gallons of water usage.

If you change your showerhead for one that has a WaterSense label, you can reduce your water consumption by over 2,500 gallons a year. The reduced workload can also add to the life expectancy of your hot water heater.

Your water heater is probably set to 140 degrees, which is the default setting. If you lower it by 20 degrees, you can take about 10% off your average water heating costs. If you plan to be out of town for a few days, turn it off, or to lowest possible setting to conserve energy.

A few small changes here and there can make a big difference in your energy bill. A lower bill is sure to make your wallet happy.