If you are looking to trim the fat from your budget, you may want to look at lowering your utility costs. There are a number of small changes you can make to lower your monthly bills.
1. Better Insulate Your Home
If you own your home, there are a few steps you can take to make sure your house is not leaking heat in the winter or cool air in the summer:
- Most of your home’s heat escapes through the attic, so insulating your attic is very important. Even using inexpensive fiberglass can help you save energy.
- Apply weatherstripping to your windows and doors.
- The USDE estimates that insulating your water heater can prevent 25-45% of standby heat loss.
- Your outlets and light switches can be a source of air leaks, especially if they are located on an outer wall. You can purchase specialized plate seals to help cut heating and cooling costs.
- Regularly check for water leaks to make sure you are not wasting water.
2. Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
There are a number of products that you can purchase to cut down on your electric bill. One such purchase is a programmable thermostat, which the U.S. Department of Energy (USDE), says can save you 10% on your utility bill. There are also now a number of smart thermostats on the market you can manage from your Internet-connected devices, such as your mobile phone or Amazon’s Alexa. If you forget to turn down your heat before leaving for work in the morning, you can do it from your phone.
Another smart purchase is a low-flow shower head. Older shower heads use 4 to 5 gallons of water per minute, while the newer low-flow heads put out 1.5 gallons. While the price of a new shower head can range from $10 to $200, they will help you conserve water, which will save you money.
Finally, when it is time to replace your electronic devices and appliances, purchase those that are Energy Star rated. They use a lot less energy than non-Energy Star rated products, which will save money in the long run.
3. Adjust the Temperature
While everyone has a different comfort zone, you may try to keep your house cooler in the winter and warmer in the summer than you are presently accustomed. Instead of cranking up the heat, consider wearing a sweater or enjoying your favorite Netflix show under a blanket.
Do not just adjust the temperature on your thermostat. Turn down your hot water heater as well. According to the USDE, lowering the temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees on your water heater could save you at least $2 a month, which may not sound like a lot, but these sorts of small adjustments add up.
4. Rethink How You Do Chores
By making slight adjustments to how you complete basic household chores, you could save yourself a lot each month.
- Wash your clothes in cold water and hang your clothes to dry when weather allows.
- If you do use your dryer, keep your lint screen clean, as it will help the machine dry more efficiently.
- Make sure you always fill your dishwasher. Do not waste energy by running it while half-full. Also, instead of using the heat dry feature, let your dishes air dry. Or consider hand-washing your dishes to completely save on energy.
5. Keep Items Turned Off
When you leave a room, make sure you and everyone in your family turn off any electronic devices that are running. Don’t just turn off lights and ceiling fans, but also computers and printers instead of just letting them go into standby mode. Finally, consider unplugging things like your TV when they are not in use.