Every summer and winter, many families find paying the monthly electric bill a true thorn in the side of their household budget. For those three to four months twice a year, the air conditioner or heater are on full tilt, and if it’s Christmas then the beautiful, twinkling lights adorning festive houses may be costing a small fortune.
When you add in a life change, like the birth of a child as in our situation, trying to free up some money for added expenses becomes imperative. It may seem like lowering your electric bill could be a futile task, especially in those incredibly polar opposites of seasons, but with a few changes around the house, you could start seeing that monthly bill go down and, even more importantly, stay down.
Cooling and Heating
If no one’s home, leave it alone. Before leaving for the day, turn the thermostat up to 79 degrees, if it’s going to be a warm day. If the weather forecast calls for cold temperatures, drop the thermostat down to 69 or lower. While you may arrive home to a bit of “stuffiness” initially, it will prevent your unit from “kicking on” while no one is home to enjoy the cooling or heating. This is one trick that has taken some “remembering” early in the morning as we are scurrying out the door, but it’s a habit we’ve acquired.
Use natural cooling. In the spring and fall, when the temperatures are comfortable, opening up as many doors and windows in your home can drastically lower the air conditioning costs in addition to airing out any odors and feelings of stuffiness. Blocking out the sun by keeping blinds and curtains closed during the late morning to early evening hours can also keep your house cool. Enjoy the natural light? Keep the blinds and curtains just partially closed during the hottest hours of the day only.
When winter’s cold temperatures are in swing, if you have a fireplace, crank it up. In addition to using natural heat, you get to enjoy the cozy ambiance. My husband likes to tease me that if the temperature outside drops below 60, I’ll have the fireplace going. While I at least wait until it dips into the 50s, I definitely enjoy using the fireplace to naturally heat the house instead of turning on the heater.
Unplug Non-Essentials
We assumed, like most people, that if an appliance is not turned on or a power plug, though plugged into the wall, is not attached to a device then no power was being used. We were wrong! Anything plugged into an electrical outlet, whether the device or appliance is turned on or not, is pulling electricity and running up the electric bill. So now every night before bed, my husband and I make the rounds through the house turning off ceiling fans because, as we were told by someone who works for the electric company, fans cool a person, not a room; the overhead lamp above the kitchen sink; the outside porch lights; and the baby monitor in the living room. Before we leave in the mornings, we make sure all baby monitors are unplugged, our son’s nighttime cd player is unplugged, and all lights and fans are off. We also unplug anything small that we can get easily reach, such as the coffee maker, our cell phone chargers, and the baby’s humidifier. Unplugging items, such as an air purifier, when not in use can save you approximately $8 a month.
Electric Garage Doors
It is so easy to pull into the driveway, push a button, and watch with a smile as the garage door opens before you, welcoming you home. However, that wonderful convenience is also drawing some serious wattage. Though it isn’t always easy or convenient, refrain from using the garage door opener and watch how quickly your electric costs start diminishing.
Bigger, Fewer Loads
One of the great debates my husband and I have shared over the years is how frequently to wash the dishes and the laundry. While one of us preferred to have laundry done twice a week, even if it meant smaller loads, the other insisted larger loads once a week would ultimately cut back on the electricity, and it has. Although both methods will result in approximately the same water usage, cutting laundry back to several larger loads once a week will mean less overall electrical use. According to Clay Electric of Clay County, Florida, an electric clothes dryer can consume a minimum of $10 of your electric bill at minimum usage levels. The same goes for your dishwasher. Try to fill the dishwasher with every available space while still allowing the machine to work properly, and you may find yourself running the machine less and saving more electricity.
For a list of estimated monthly costs of electrical appliances, such as air conditioners, refrigerators, even computers, visit https://www.clayelectric.com/documents/energyefficiencyofhouseholdappliances.pdf.
When faced with the dilemma of trying to free up money in the household budget and lower expenses, cutting your electric bill in half may seem impossible. But it’s not. We managed to take our electric bills, which averaged most months at over $200, and reduce them by fifty percent. With some minor changes to your daily routine, you, too, can finally open your electric bill without cringing…even in the middle of a 100 degree summer!
Sources:
Author’s Personal Experience
www.clayelectric.com
