6 Ways to Lower Your Utility Bill

 

If you are like most people, you are always looking for ways to save money. Finding ways to lower your utility bills is probably high on your list of things that you would like to do. Luckily, there are some fairly straightforward ways to do just that.

1. Have a look around your kitchen. Most people understand that upgrading their kitchen appliances is often a good way to use less energy. If you want to lower your utility bills, your kitchen should be your first place to look. If you have not gotten a new refrigerator in a long time, you may want to look into that. Newer models can save up to 50% of the energy that were used by those that were built 15 years ago. If you replace your dishwasher, oven and microwave with Energy Star rates appliances, the savings can be remarkable.
2. Look at other appliances around your home. If you are serious about efforts to lower your utility bills, you need to go further than just your kitchen. Look at your washing machine and dryer, You water heater is another appliance that can be a real energy suck. Some estimate that as much as 30% of a home’s energy usage is to heat their water. That is where tankless water heaters may be worth installing. It has been estimated that a tankless water heater is between 24 and 34% more energy efficient than a conventional water heater. A lot of this is because they only heat water as it is needed whereas the traditional models keep heating the water all of the time.
3. Set your thermostat differently, Making small changes in how you set your thermostat can yield real results when you are trying to lower your utility bills. You can cut anywhere between 5 and 20% from your heating bill if you lower the temperature on your thermostat to between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. You can save even more by setting it to 55 at night or when you are not at home. In the summer, every degree above 78 will cut your energy bills. You should also take a look at your water heater. If you are not ready to install a new unit, you can still save money by putting the temperature to 120 degrees.
4. Replace your thermostat. You may not think much about your thermostat. There are a few ways you can make it work for you. By installing a new, digital thermostat, you can lower your utility bill. These can be programmed so that you are not heating or cooling your home excessively when no one is there. Most of the newer models can be set and checked remotely so that you can keep an eye on it when you are at work or on vacation. There are some systems that also allow you to heat or cool only the parts of the home where people actually are. This is good if you have a multi-story home or a larger house. When everyone goes upstairs at night to go to bed, you can stop heating your lower floors, for example. This can also reduce the stress on your HVAC system and prevent you from needing air conditioning and heating services done.
5. Put in new windows and doors. Newer windows are very energy efficient. They are great at keeping your heating or cooling inside while keeping out drafts and the heat from the sun. You want a cool or warm house but you do not need to cool or heat the neighborhood. If you do not want to replace all of your windows and doors, you can change the weatherstripping around them to ensure your home is not drafty.
6. Unplug electrical appliances when they are not in use. People often do not realize just how much power is flowing into their appliances, even when they are off. Your microwave, which has a time display, takes in power when it is not being used. That can suck up a lot of energy. There are some appliances that always need to be plugged in but there are many that do not.

These six simple steps can do a lot to help you lower your utility bills.