How to Save on Your Energy Bill with These 8 Habits

Rising energy costs can strain your budget, but the good news? You don’t need fancy upgrades to cut costs. Small, consistent habits can lead to big savings in your utility bills over time.

Here are eight simple yet powerful ways to reduce your energy bill—without sacrificing comfort.

Heating and cooling eat up nearly half of your energy bill. But you can save on your energy usage without freezing or sweating with the following tips:

• Set your thermostat to 68°F (20°C) in winter and 78°F (26°C) in summer when you’re home. This helps lower your future electric bills.
• Lower/raise it by 7–10°F when you’re asleep or away—this can slash heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) costs per year.

Look into different programmable thermostats that you can use to automate adjustments. Switching to a smart thermostat is a must. It learns your habits and adjusts automatically, saving you even more.

Smart thermostats and other energy efficient home upgrades can be costly. No worries. You can tap into free energy grants to finance such improvements. Reach out to organizations like Fairway Energy to know if you qualify for an energy grant that you can use.

Your electronics still suck energy even when they’re turned ‘off.’ This ‘phantom load’ can add hundreds a year to your bill.

To avoid that, unplug chargers, TVs and gaming consoles, your clothes dryer, air conditioners, and other electronic devices when not in use. A quick walk-through before bed to unplug all of your gadgets can make a noticeable difference.

Aside from that, make use of smart power strips to cut power to multiple devices at once. Finally, look for certified appliances that use less power while on standby mode compared to their non-certified peers.

Lighting accounts for a large part of many households’ home energy use (including yours). But did you know that you can lower yours with LEDs?

How do LEDs aid you in your quest for bigger savings? They use significantly less energy than incandescent bulbs. Aside from that, they last way longer too, saving you replacement costs.

Install LED light bulbs in high-use areas (kitchen, living room, porch) first. Then, pair them with motion sensors or dimmers for lower electricity usage.

Your washer’s heating element is a huge energy hog. Switching to cold water can save you money per year.

Why washing clothes in cold water is okay? Modern detergents work just as well in cold water. Plus, you can air-dry clothes when possible—dryers are energy vampires.

If you must use hot water, reserve it for heavily soiled items. Only run full loads to maximize efficiency as well.

Drafts make your HVAC system work harder. This drives up costs. A well-sealed home keeps indoor temperatures at a stable level.

The following is a step-by-step guide for insulating your home:

• Check windows and doors for gaps—use weatherstripping or caulk.
• Next, add insulation to attics and walls (especially in older homes).
• Install thermal curtains to block heat loss in winter and keep cool air in during summer.

If you want to insulate an air-conditioned room from others, a cheap draft stopper under doors can prevent costly air leaks.

Operating your fridge, oven, and dishwasher doesn’t have to break the bank. You can use them at the right times of the day. Avoid peak hours (usually 4–9 PM) for high-energy tasks like laundry. Run dishwashers and washing machines at night (if you have time-of-use rates with your utility provider).

Besides, keep fridge temps at 37°F–40°F and freezer at 0°F—any colder wastes energy.

Finally, microwaves, slow cookers, and toaster ovens use less energy than stoves for small meals.

Water heating consists a considerable portion of your energy bill. Nonetheless, a few tweaks can help you lower that:

• Lower the thermostat to 120°F (most households don’t need it hotter);
• Insulate older water heaters with a blanket (just avoid the thermostat);
• Fix leaky faucets;
• Take shorter showers; and so on.

For bigger savings, consider a tankless water heater—it heats water on demand.

Why pay for artificial lighting and cooling when nature can help? Take advantage of natural lighting in illuminating your indoors.

The following are actionable tips: open south-facing windows in winter for free warmth, use blackout curtains in summer to block heat, install skylights or solar tubes to brighten rooms without flipping a switch, utilize smart lighting systems, and so on.