In order to save money on your electricity bill, you must learn to reduce your daily and monthly usage of electricity. While you might think you are already conserving as much as possible, there might be several techniques you can implement to save even more money.
Limit Use to Save Electricity
The first step to reducing your electric bill is to limit the actual usage of electricity as much as possible. This means turning off lights when no one is in a room and turning off all non-essential devices when they are not in use. Additionally, you should try to use these devices less frequently. For example, limiting television use to one or two hours a day or reserving it for night-time use only reduces the amount of electricity used each day.
You should also try to limit the use of cooling devices, such as air conditioning units, central air conditioning, and fans. Set them to a higher temperature or lower settings and only using them when someone is home. Likewise, you can cool your house more efficiently by closing vents in rooms that are not used, causing cool air to only flow only into the most used rooms.
Get Unplugged
In addition to limiting usage, you should be aware of the electricity used by the devices and appliances plugged in but not in use. Televisions, microwave ovens, and game consoles all use electricity to maintain saved data, and they collectively contribute to a significant portion of the consumer’s electric bill. By unplugging unnecessary devices, you can expect a large decrease in their monthly electric bill.
Alternative Energy
Another option for saving electricity is to install alternative energy sources in your home. Wind turbines, solar panels, and hydroelectric generators can all be used to supply free electricity to the consumer’s home. While these sources can be very expensive to install, you will see significant savings in the long-run. Additionally, you can hire a professional to build artificial shading around your home and seal holes and cracks in the foundation of the home to avoid air leaks. This prevents your heating and cooling costs from rising due to inefficient insulation.
Location, Location, Location
Another factor you need to take into account is that electricity is a product provided by the utility company in your region. While utility companies are often monopolies and require everyone in the region to purchase services through them, consumers do have the option of relocating to a region with less expensive utility costs in order to save money. Though it might be out of the question to relocate your home just to save on electricity, it should be a consideration when you are shopping for a new home. Look for homes that are located in area’s that offer low heating and cooling costs. You might also want to consider a home that you can one day upgrade to be “off the grid.” If you find a home with energy upgrades, you will begin saving on electricity as soon as you move in.