Over the past couple of years we've noticed a creeping in our bills. Unfortunately, they are not creeping downward but upwards. Our food bills are going up because of the costs of producing the food that we eat, and our energy bills are skyrocketing because whether or not we have the heating on or we have the air conditioning on, the companies are adding more and more charges to our bills.
The chances are right now you are looking for ways that you can cut back on your bills and ease the pressure on your household budget. Just as you're looking for ways to find and save money, there is a good chance that your energy bills have skyrocketed.
Even if you are working remotely right now which is saving you money on your commute, you are simply transferring that cost to your energy bills. Some people have invested in solar panels rather than a traditional electricity system, because they know that drawing the power directly from the sun is a source that will not go out of style for a very very long time.
With a little extra time on your hands, it can be how to know where to begin when it comes to cutting down on your budget. So, let's take a look at some of the best ways you can reduce your energy use.
Turn off the Lights.
When you were a kid your parents yelled at you to turn the lights off when you left the room, you may have rolled your eyes pretty heavily. Now that you're an adult and you're managing your own household, we're sure you can appreciate exactly why they would have asked you repeatedly to turn those lights off.
It's a good way to reduce unnecessary energy usage, and your parents know the score. By turning off lights in each room as you leave it, you will be cutting down on how much energy you are using and therefore cut down on your costs.
Switch to LED bulbs. Did you know that LED light bulbs use 75% less energy? These last significantly longer than the incandescent and halogen bulbs that you usually would use, and they produce better and clearer light.
A simple swap can lead to up to savings of $650 / 10 years and that's not a small amount of money. You could also try task lighting with a desk lamp or a reading lamp, rather than using the lights in the living room all the time. It will create a much more cozy and cinematic atmosphere, two.
Check Out Your Kitchen.
You can save a lot of money on your electricity bill simply by looking at what you are using in the kitchen. Instead of spending your money eating out at expensive restaurants, which is nice, don't get us wrong, you can make some real savings by cooking at home.
Your refrigerator is running 24 hours a day and uses a significant amount of electricity, so make sure that the seal of it is airtight so that none of the cold air can escape. You should also make sure that the temperature is set to between four and five degrees for the fridge and the freezer is between minus 15 to minus 18 so that it can perform optimally. You should also ensure that your fridge has been noted as an energy efficient appliance.
Swap to an air fryer. A good way to save a lot of money on your electricity and energy usage is to invest in an air fryer. They're not particularly expensive and they reproduce a lot less heat and a lot less energy than an oven would. Pressure cookers and microwave ovens also have the same idea, so having these appliances means that you use your main oven a lot less.
Monitor Your Thermostat.
More time at home equals more hours of the day used on your heating and cooling. The thermostat functions as the heart of your home, and it's your personalized weather center. Instead of just setting it and forgetting it, invest in a smart thermostat and optimize it to when you need it. Every degree lower can reduce your running costs by up to 10%, so set your thermostat to between 18 and 21 degrees.
Upgrade the power board. When you are working from home, you save money on your commute but if you don't upgrade the power board the chances are high that you're going to be using devices much more often and the power board can be overloaded.
This can lead to blackouts which is not something that you need. You need to upgrade your power board with a smart docking station so that all of your devices can charge and run from one place.
Consider the Way You Wash Your Clothes.
Instead of using the hottest cycle to wash all of your clothes, use cold water. You can save a lot of money on your electricity bill because your washer won't have to heat the water as it runs. You should also just select the shortest washing cycle possible and don't do a wash until you have a full load.
These are all good ways to make sure that you can keep on top of your washing. If you have a dryer, keep it for the winter months. As soon as the weather is dry, get everything to hang out outside. You'll save up to $79 per year if you are hanging your clothes outside, and you could take advantage of sunny days if you live in a sunny area.
Close the Doors.
Through the house, if you are trying to warm the space that you are in then don't try to warm rooms that aren't even being used. Close the doors on those spaces to keep the heat where you want it to be and you'll be able to make your home much more energy efficient.
You should only heat or cool the rooms where you spend most of your time, so if you work downstairs then there's no need to have the air conditioning running upstairs.
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