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Figuring out how to save on the electricity bill is easy once you take a few small actions toward it. Of course, there are quick and easy ways and there are more involved ways. But the good news is, there are things you can do today to reduce your energy use (and your power bill!).
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, most households use about 1,000 kWh per month of energy. To find out how to save on the electricity bill, take a look at your monthly statement and figure out how much your family is using. From there, make a plan to bring it down. Here are a few things you can do to reduce energy usage and lower your monthly electricity charges:
1. Find out how to save on the electricity bill with “cool credits” through your power company.
Many power companies offer a program that gives you a small reduction on your monthly bill in exchange for allowing them to cycle your air conditioning. For example, where I live, you can get a $5 month credit on your power bill if you enroll in the program. The power company comes out and installs a small device next to your air conditioner, giving them the ability to control it for small snippets of time. There are parameters, like they won’t do it on weekends or holidays. And they’ll only do it for a few hours at a time.
2. Lower your electric bill by replacing your light switches to reprogrammable ones.
via Amazon Reviews
Programmable light switches are inexpensive and easy to install. You might spend $15 – $25 on a switch, but they can control your lights and fans so the next time someone forgets to turn a light off when they leave a room, it’ll go off automatically.
3. Get super smart. (You know, with smart plugs and bulbs.)
Here’s how to save on the electricity bill the easy way. Smart plugs and smart bulbs! Smart plugs will unplug your gadgets automatically and smart bulbs will turn off on a timer. Amazon often has deals on these, and during certain times of the year (Black Friday, for example), expect to see Amazon Smart Plugs for about 40% off. Also during Black Friday, and again for Amazon Prime Day, you’ll find free smart bulbs with Echo Dot purchases.
Learn how to save on smart plugs during Black Friday.
4. Use smart power strips too.
Rinse and repeat what I said about smart plugs and bulbs. Smart power strips will do what a smart plug does, but on a larger scale.
5. How to save on the electricity bill: Stop “vampire power” from draining your wallet.
“Vampire power” is exactly what it sounds like. Power that’s being sucked up, usually without you even realizing it. Even if it’s not in use! I’m talking about phone chargers, TVs, microwaves, coffee makers, printers, etc. that are draining power just because they’re connected to a socket. One easy solution is to plug these things into an outlet only when you’re using them. Pull the plug when you’re done.
6. Get a programmable thermostat.
Something like a Nest thermostat can save you money because it turns itself down when you leave the house. Also, you can control it remotely through your smartphone, so if for whatever reason, you want to change the settings while you’re at work or the grocery store, you can.
Nest thermostats run a little over a hundred dollars, but you can often find them on sale at Amazon or Best Buy. Aim to pay around $100.
7. Put your thermostat in a better location.
If your thermostat is in direct sunlight or subject to drafts, you’ll pay more on your power bill since the air conditioning will get triggered when it’s perhaps not necessary. Another bad spot for your thermostat is next to the TV or lamps or any other item that gets hot when it’s in use. Instead, think about putting it in a dark hallway or the like.
8. Set your air conditioner so it’s a couple degrees warmer than usual.
With AC, the name of the game is using it less. But when it’s hot in the summer, the name of the game is staying cool, and there’s the rub. Make a compromise in order to save a bit on electric bills. If you normally like the AC at 70 degrees, set it to 72 degrees on the hottest summer days. As long as you’re not uncomfortable, keep pushing that number higher.
9. Don’t crank your air conditioner way down thinking it’ll cool faster.
You get home, and the house is way too warm because you’re trying to save on your electricity bill. It might be tempting at this moment to set the AC to the lowest possible setting in order to get that sweet, cold air flowing faster. But don’t do it. Setting your AC lower than you want it doesn’t cool your home faster, and it can actually use more energy, resulting in a higher electric bill.
10. Find out how to save on the electricity bill by upping your ceiling fan game.
First, fans cool people by producing wind; they don’t cool rooms. So make sure to turn off your fans when nobody is in the room.
Also, make sure you’re using your fan properly in order to maximize the electricity use.
Make sure the fan is blowing counterclockwise to create a cool, downward airflow. In winter when it’s cold out and you want to keep the warm air coming, set it to turn clockwise. This way, the warm air that rises to your ceiling can circulate back down.
Need a ceiling fan that changes direction? Amazon has some good options. Otherwise, watch for a sale at Home Depot or Lowe’s.
Learn more hacks to stay cool in summer.
11. Install window coverings that’ll block sunlight (and heat!) to lower your electric bill.
Replacing windows is expensive (although you can get a tax credit if you do it — read on for more). So if you’re not in the market to sink dollars into a full replacement, invest in some dark blinds that’ll block the heat leaking in through your windows.
12. Seal cracks and drafty window openings with caulk or weatherstripping.
Caulk is a great little tool because it’s not permanent. You can use this solution and remove it whenever you want. Any little change you can make to block hot air from coming through your windows is a huge win.
13. Open windows at night and close them in the morning.
If you live somewhere that gets cool at night, make this your new religion: Open all the windows in the house before you go to bed. Close all the windows and blinds in the morning when you get up. The idea is to let all the cool air in, and then block all heat and warm air during the day.
14. Don’t use your oven or stove to cook on the hottest days.
Or if you do, keep it closed as much as possible! This is two-pronged. First, using the oven and stove makes the home warmer, forcing your air conditioning to work harder and use more power. Second, every time you open the oven door, the internal oven temperature will drop up to 25 degrees, so your oven has to work harder to heat up again.
My family makes epic sandwiches, salads, and other cold foods for dinner on the hottest summer days.
15. Or use a microwave instead.
Small appliances like Air Fryers, microwaves, toasters, and even Instant Pots use less electricity than large appliances. Microwaves especially won’t add any extra heat to your home while cooking either. Look for deals on small appliances at Kohl’s, where you can earn Kohl’s Cash to spend toward future purchases.
16. Set your hot water heater to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 120 degrees or lower will help your family avoid getting scalded by hot water, and also it’ll decrease your monthly power expense.
17. Hang your clothes to dry outside (and keep your dryer vent clean if you use it!).
How to save on the electricity bill when you’ve got laundry to do? Summer is a great time to hang dry your laundry and give your dryer a break from pulling electricity to run. But if that’s not possible, at the very least, be diligent about cleaning out your dryer vent and keeping the appliance clean so that it doesn’t have to work harder than needed.
Read more household cleaning tips.
18. Use cold water when doing laundry so you’re not spending money heating water.
According to the Department of Energy, using cold water for your loads will save on your power bill because you’re not heating the water just to use it to wash clothes. Treat any stains right away in order to get some benefits that warm water would offer.
Also, according to Consumer Reports, front-loaders and high-efficiency machines run 10% cooler than machines with the top-loading agitators.
Learn some of the best laundry hacks of all time.
19. Hand-washing dishes doesn’t save on your electric bill. Use your dishwasher.
Especially if you’ve got an energy-efficient dishwasher. Similar to your washing machine, when you use a dishwasher, you’re only heating the water that needs to be hot. When you wash dishes by hand, you’ll most likely run warm to hot water the entire time, costing money to heat it.
Find out how to get Lowe’s appliances on the cheap.
20. But let your dishes air-dry.
You’ll still use power to run the air-dry setting, but it’ll be 15% less power since it’s only required to move air around, not to heat the air.
21. Replace your showerhead with an energy-efficient one.
In addition to using less water, you’ll use less power when you install an energy-efficient shower head. The EPA estimates that the average family could save more than 330 kilowatt hours of electricity in a year just by doing this one thing. That’s enough power to run a home for 11 days! Imagine the savings on your power bill.
22. Keep your air ducts clean.
Just like with dryer lint, air ducts that are full or blocked by debris and dust can make your HVAC system work less efficiently. The result? It uses more power to do a job it could do with less power if the obstacles were removed.
23. Get a federal tax credit for your energy-efficient home improvements.
You can get a federal tax credit for certain upgrades you make to your home. For example, if you put in any of these, you can get up to 10% of your cost back (up to $500).
- Energy-efficient exterior windows, doors, or skylights
- Roofs and roof products
- Insulation
Replacing these items are, of course, huge financial investments, so I’m not recommending you do it in order to save money on your electric bill. More like if you’re doing these improvements this year, make sure you get a tax credit for them!
How to save on your kitchen remodel.
24. If you’re replacing your roof, opt for white or another light color.
White roofs keep homes cooler with less energy. Inexpensive elastomeric coating can easily turn your roof white (with the help of a paint tray and roller) — and save you money as well.
25. Use a solar savings calculator to determine if solar panels will save you money in the long run.
Solar panels are a huge investment, so it may not be feasible if you’re already on a tight budget, but you can use this solar savings calculator to decide if it’s a good long-term savings move for you.
Best Energy-Efficient Deals Offered Now
