Reduce Your Electric Bill by Adjusting Home Activities
by Tyler Castle
3.5 min read
Reduce Your Electric Bill by Adjusting Home Activities
Finding untapped opportunities to save can seem daunting at times, but it’s easier than you might think—if you know where to look. Check out your electricity bill.
You can lower your electricity bill by making a few small adjustments to your home activities. Some of these changes are so minor that they won’t affect your day-to-day life at all, except for the fact that you’ll just have a little extra room in your budget every month.
You can save money on your energy bill with just a few simple techniques. Here are some ways to get started.
- Plant a Tree
If you feel like your house is always too stuffy and you just can’t bear to turn the temperature down on your AC, you might want to consider shading your home. Plant the right tree or shrub to block the sun’s rays, keeping your house cooler and saving you a few bucks. Some excellent choices for greenery include the fast-growing “sun valley” maple or a crape myrtle with its dark, wide canopy.
- Upgrade Your Light Bulbs
If you are already good about switching lights off when they’re not in use, take the next step and upgrade your bulbs. Some bulbs are more efficient and can potentially reduce your electricity bill. Compact fluorescents (CFLs) have exploded in popularity over the last decade, but you should consider giving LEDs a shot, too. They last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs and use up to 80% less energy.
- Consider The Season
If you have noticed that your bill has significantly increased recently, think about what changes could have caused the increase. If it’s wintertime and you’ve cranked up your heat, try to find new ways to stay warm. It’s amazing what a sweater, a well-placed blanket, and a cup of hot tea can do for your electricity bill.
- What is the Ideal Temperature to Sleep at Night in Summer?
To keep your AC costs low in the long, hot days of summer, keep your doors and windows closed as much as possible when the AC is running. This helps to prevent cold air from escaping and making your AC work that much harder.
If that isn’t doing the trick for you, draw your blinds and curtains. It can be tempting to throw open the blinds on a sunny summer day, but those blinds aren’t just for privacy; they also help cool your home. If you can’t bear to live in a dark cave during the day, at least remember to draw the blinds when you head out.
The ideal sleeping temperature for most adults is between 60-67°F, while for children it’s 65-72°F.[2] However, keeping your home this cool can become expensive in the summer, especially if you live in the South where summer night temperatures hover around 90° from June through August. See if you can tolerate slightly warmer temperatures at night by switching to linen sheets and a thin quilt.
- What is the best time to do laundry to save Electricity?
Depending on your service provider, the best time to do laundry is between 7 pm and noon. This is because you would be running your load during non-peak hours, potentially making you eligible for a slight price discount. If you have nights or weekends free on your contract, save your laundry for those times to take advantage of the savings.
- How much Electricity does a TV Use in a Day?
For those of us who leave our TVs on for our pets or to use as background noise, we no longer need to feel guilty about how it could be impacting our electricity usage. While TVs come in different watt types, a TV that uses 100w an hour and is on for 12 hours a day will cost you less than $100 annually.
About Santanna Energy Services
Santanna Energy Services located in Austin, TX and Bolingbrook IL, is an Electricity and Natural Gas Provider for Residential, Commercial, Business and more. Founded in 1988 and have been in business for 32 years and growing!
Tyler is an experienced energy professional, having worked for Santanna Energy Services, for the past four years. He is passionate about renewable energy and believes that diversifying the energy grid is the key to a sustainable future. Tyler is dedicated to supplying consumers with the best possible energy solutions and works diligently to make sure that Santanna can deliver the highest quality service.
