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Utility bills are no joke. They can really hurt your wallet. According to Forbes, the average household in the U.S. pays $429.33 per month on utility bills. Although steep, you don’t have to pay over $400 a month for water and electricity. There are plenty of clever ways to cut your energy costs.
To curate these tricks, we focused on simple ones anyone can do to save money. Here we have 15 clever tricks to cut your energy bill this month.
Frequently Replace Your AC Filters
Air conditioners use a lot of electricity, but maintaining them can cut costs. You don’t have to be HVAC certified to replace an AC filter. As someone who lives in an apartment, I replace it every month to help with monthly costs.
Turn Lights off When Out of the Room
This trick is simple. You’ve heard it a million times, but it’s true. Turning off lights each month cuts your energy costs.
When you leave a room, turn off the lights. This can help your energy bill decrease over time.
Infrequently Use the Washing Machine
Washing machines also use a lot of water and electricity. If you can, limit your washing machine use. Wash larger loads infrequently rather than constantly washing small loads.
For small loads, hand washing is great! Hand washing can also help your clothes last longer.
Keep Your Freezer Full
The cooler your freezer, the cooler your refrigerator. This is an excellent trick if you have a fridge with a freezer on top. Packing frozen fruits, meat, veggies, and meals can lower your costs.
Use an Energy-Efficient Shower Head
Showering wastes so much energy. As someone who loves long hot showers, this trip works splendidly. Changing your shower head to an energy-efficient one can save you lots of money in water.
According to the EPA, using a WaterSense showerhead can save a family 2,700 gallons yearly.
Take Shorter Showers
Taking shorter showers is very helpful. It can decrease your water and electricity use. Try to time your showers. You’ll be surprised at just how long you stay in the water. Just a minute can make all the difference.
Unplug Your Devices
This clever trick is tied to a previous one. Not only can you save energy each month by turning off the lights in your home, but you can also unplug devices. If you’re done charging your phone, remove it from the outlet.
The same goes for kitchen devices. When you’re done with the coffee machine, unplug it until the next use.
Spend Time Outdoors
Staying indoors with the TV, lights, and other devices on can waste a lot of electricity. To cut your energy bill, try spending time outdoors. Look for a hobby that isn’t done at home.
Seal Any Openings
Don’t make the heater or AC system work harder than it needs to. Sometimes, the AC runs longer when there are leaks and holes in the doors and windows. Seal them to cut your costs.
This clever trick is also great at keeping bugs and pollen out of your home.
Keep Your Windows Closed
You should seal any leaks and openings in your home and keep your windows and doors open—but only when your AC/heater is on. This way, the system isn’t constantly running and trying to match the set temperature.
Install Energy-Efficient Appliances
Energy-efficient appliances are everything when trying to cut energy costs. If you have your own home and can only purchase energy-efficient appliances. This is more of a long-term clever trip to cut your bills.
Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Another energy-efficient trick is to use energy-efficient light bulbs. LEDs last longer and use less energy. The Department of Energy states that these lightbulbs use up to 90% less energy than traditional light bulbs.
Invest in Ceiling Fans
Summers are brutal—I know! I live in Florida, where summers are filled with hot and humid days. But you don’t have to use an AC system to cool down.
A great way to cut your energy bill is to use a ceiling fan. If you can’t install a ceiling fan, you can also get a standing fan.
Lower the Heat
Heaters use a lot of electricity. If you can, try not to use one or lower the temperature so the system doesn’t overwork itself. Instead, layer on clothes and blankets to keep warm.
Clear out Your Dryer Filter
Dryers also use a lot of energy. If you don’t clean the lint, the machine uses more electricity. It uses more electricity because the filter is blocked, and your clothes don’t always dry.
After each cycle, clear out the filter.
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