Saving Money on Your Electric Bill

Last month my electric bill shot through the roof, for me it was HUGE at around $200. I was shocked, but apparently, the summer heat really caused us to use a lot more electricity than normal. I’m guessing I’m not the only one that has had this happen to them. This got me thinking, how much energy/electric we use. I called up the company and started asking questions. Want some tips?

Tips to Save Money on Electric Bill

It’s no secret that electricity is expensive and it doesn’t matter if it is summer or winter. The cost of electricity is rising and so are our bills. Am I right?

There are many ways to save on your electric bill. For example, you could use LED lightbulbs to reduce the amount of electricity used to power lamps and lights; start using a clothesline or drying rack to hang out clothing instead of running the dryer for hours and hours; set your thermostat at 68 degrees during winter days and 72 degrees during summer days, in order to keep energy costs down; seal air leaks by caulking windows, doors and switches-these are just a few ideas! What can you do to save money on your energy bill?

Ways to Save on Electric

• Keep your temperature constant. Increasing and lowering the temperature on your AC will drive your price up. Keep the AC on around 79.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Use a ceiling fan. If you live in the desert or another climate that gets warm you may want to consider ceiling fans. Leaving ceiling fans on when you go out will help circulate the air and cool down your house, instead of lowering the temperature on the air conditioner.
• Unplug everything in the house and on the outside. You are paying for the energy used to do nothing. Unplug those alarm clocks, extra appliances, or even the microwave. While you are unplugging you may want to consider a surge protector to keep everything safe.
• Use electricity during non-peak hours. Peak times are typically 6-7pm when everyone is home from work and school. The cost of electricity during these peak hours can be up to an extra 30% higher than the rest of a normal day.
• Use the washer/dryer during off-hours. Use the washer and dryer during peak hours will lower your cost (6-8a.m. and 6-8p.m.) Plus you won’t get additional laundry thrown in, you’ll catch all the end-of-day dirty clothes.
• Use the computer in the early morning or late at night. Computers draw a lot of power to run, so if you use it on an off period that would be during peak time (6p.m.-8a.m.) your cost to run the computer will be
• Wash Your Dishes By Hand. Use your dishwasher less (I’m guilty of using mine) and save you energy and money. Let your kids pitch in and you have a little time to relax.
• Use natural light. If you have some natural sunlight coming into your house in the morning, use that instead of turning on the lights to get ready for the day. And make sure to close your blinds at night so you are not letting that natural light go to waste.
• Use a towel for added warmth to windows. Consider draping a towel over windows for an extra barrier to add more heat during winter months.
• Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Even if you are only going to be gone for 2 minutes, make sure to turn off all lights or TVs that may still be on. As soon as my kids get on the school bus I come inside and walk through the house to turn off any lights that may have been left on. It is also a good idea to turn off any appliances that may have clocks on them too.
• Use energy-saving lightbulbs. These will use less energy than regular light bulbs. You can find them at any hardware store or even some grocery stores (Walmart has them). They do cost a bit more but they last longer and will reduce your bill.
• Insulate your attic and walls. If you have old insulation, it might be time to replace it with new high-efficiency insulation. This will help to keep the warm air in during the winter and cool air inside during summertime.
• Check those filters. See if the AC filter needs to be changed, if it is clogged up it’ll take more energy to get cooler. If you are using your furnace and it is dirty, it causes dust while the heating units pump out heat trying to clean up the dirt in your home. You might want to change out the furnace filter every month.
• If you have a swimming pool, invest in a solar cover. These covers reduce evaporation and heat loss from the water surface, thus lowering the energy cost for maintaining the optimum temperature.
• Repair appliances. Check for leaks, cracks, anything that can let energy escape. Consider calling a professional to check the insulation, sealing any leaks on refrigerators or freezers will save money and keep food from going bad so fast.
• Cold? Wear a sweater. Put on a sweater or use an electric blanket instead of turning up the heat.
• Use your fireplace if you get cold. If you have a fireplace, use it! It gives off light and heat during the long winter months. Use real tree logs instead of fake logs to save on energy costs too.
• Use Low-E Windows/double pane windows or ones that are Energy Star certified. Not only will they help block out the cold in the winter, but also keep it out in the summertime.
• Try some Blackout curtains. We love our darkening curtains in the bedrooms, but this may not be for everyone. Blackout curtains will help you to stay cooler during the summer months and warmer during the winter due to less sun coming in.

It can be difficult to save money on your electric bill, but the tips we’ve provided should help you lower it. By using these energy-saving lightbulbs and unplugging all appliances that are not in use, you will end up saving a lot of power and lowering your bills at the same time! If you have any other ways that work for you, please share them with us below so more readers may benefit from this article.

Got any other tips? I’d love to hear them.