Many people are usually faced with high electric bills for one reason or another. People get used to the high bill and they just pay without thinking of ways to deal with the issue. There is no need to pay a lot for electricity when you can lower, even if it is a little bit. There are some things you can do to slash your electricity bill and make savings. Below are some great tips that will help you in reducing your electricity bill. Not all of the tips might apply to you, but more than one will most likely apply.
Switch to CFLs
It is a good idea to replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) will save you a lot of money on your electricity bill. This is the best place to start because it is easy to change your bulbs and will help you make the most savings. CFLs use 75% less energy and will last time tens longer than the other one. Having the most used features use CFLs will save you a lot of money at the end of the year.
Install smarter switches
Using motion sensors will help you cut back on power spending because the lights will be going on and off when you need it. There are some that will require you to turn them on manually but will turn themselves off automatically. This can be a great option for a bedroom because they will turn off when you sleep. You should also install timers for your bath fans so it can turn off automatically.
Service the air conditioner
About half of the electricity bill will be for cooling and heating. An air conditioner that has been placed in direct sunlight will use about 10 percent more energy. You should have your air conditioner checked so that it works at peak efficiency. Call a professional to do a check up on it every two or three years. If the air conditioner is more than 12 years old, consider having it replaced with an Energy Star model because this can cut the amount of electricity it uses by up to 30%.
Install double glazed windows
Heating a house can be very costly in terms of the electricity it uses to warm up your home. It is a good idea to make sure as much of that heat is retained as possible. To do this it i a good idea to install windows with double glazing that will help to retain the heat. Aluminum windows are some of the best options as they require very little maintenance and last for a long time, while looking fantastic.
Change the furnace filter
Having your furnace (electric or gas) in a good condition will have two main benefits. It ensures that the furnace is running efficiently and it will also increase its lifespan. The good thing is that you can perform the tune up on yourself without the need of professional help. During the heating season, change the filter every month. Ensure the new one is inserted the right way.
Save on electric water heating
You should do something about your water heating if you just use it at a given time of day because you are wasting a lot of electricity keeping it on 24/7. Install a timer switch. You can have them programmed for daily or weekly schedules so that the heater will be one when needed and off when not being used.
Smart metering
The metering program of one utility company will vary from that of the next, but the idea is still the same. It tracks how much electricity you are using. The data will be used to ensure that the power grid is not overloaded that can cause blackouts. Not all companies offer this, but more and more are considering it.
Run the fridge for less
The fridge consumes the most electricity when compared to the appliances you use in the kitchen. You should clean the coil at least twice per year because it will improve the efficiency of your fridge by between 30 and 50 percent.
