53 Fast & Simple Ways to Save Money On Your Electricity
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Do you want to save money on your electricity bills and amazingly be more sustainable and eco-friendly at the same time!
If so, read on…
Get An Energy Audit
Many utility companies and some states offer free home energy audits to help homeowners use their energy efficiently.
These audits often result in the offer of reduced rate tariffs, grants, trial schemes, and more efficient equipment being offered to you.
For the price of a phone call, you can make some substantial savings on your energy bills.
Another option is to use Energy Stars Home Energy Yardstick to compare your home’s energy usage against homes similar to yours.
Your third option is to use this article as your own mini audit and employ some of the checks and changes listed here.
I promise you; you will save money on your electricity bills if you do so.
Seal The Air Leaks
Most dwellings have air bricks and ventilation grids built into them to allow the home to breathe and discourage dampness.
However, as they provide an essential service, they should always be left alone and scrupulously maintained.
Unfortunately, most homes suffer from unwanted air gaps that dissipate energy and increase your energy bills.
These unwanted air gaps are often located between floorboards, around windows, letterboxes, and at the base of doors.
To counter this, you should fit draught excluders to the base of all your internal and external doors.
Furthermore, around the home, you should also use window sealing kits and rubber weatherstrips.
For floorboards and baseboards, use foam rods plus caulk to seal the gaps.
Another neat trick is to sand the boards down and retain the sawdust, then mix the sawdust with Pva glue and insert this into the cracks.
This will ensure a better color match, and the gaps will then complement the boards.
This is the perfect way to ensure that you get the perfect match, live sustainably, and save money at the same time!
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, if you add up the energy flow from the leaks and cracks in an average home, it’s equivalent to leaving a window open every day of the year!
Turn Down Your Thermostat
The U.S. Department of Energy says that lowering your thermostat setting by 7 to 10 degrees from its typical setting for eight hours a day can save you up to 10% a year on heating costs.
You can make this energy and money-saving process even easier by installing a programmable thermostat.
This will allow you to set the temperature in your home to a lower level at different hours of the day and over different weeks.
This is especially useful for taking advantage of the cheaper off-peak hours and when you are not at home.
Also, don’t fit the thermostat near the front door, as any cold air entering the house will fool your heater into firing up.
Take Control Of Your Heating
Once you have sorted out your thermostat controls, it’s time to look at where you are spending your heating money.
Many people waste money by heating rooms that they rarely use, such as spare bedrooms, utility rooms, en-suites, etc.
That’s why I would suggest fitting a thermostat to every radiator.
This will effectively give you full control over your heating system and its running costs.
You can then turn the radiators down to a minimum in those areas that you do not use.
Surprisingly it is best not to turn your radiators off completely as a little heat helps to prevent dampness.
In this way, a simple twist of the wrist once a year will save you money on your electricity bills.
Don’t Leave The Hot Tap Running
We often leave hot water taps running without thinking about the money and energy we are wasting by doing so.
To break this bad habit and create a new eco-friendly one…
Don’t place your household dishes under hot running water to pre-wash or clean the soap off.
If you absolutely must pre-wash, be more efficient and run enough water into the sink or bowl, and use only that.
And dads, fill the sink with hot water when you shave.
A sink full of hot water will do the same job but cost significantly less in water and energy used.
Check Your Loft Insulation
One of the cheapest ways to reduce energy loss in the summer and winter months is to ensure that you have adequate loft insulation.
Loft insulation guidelines differ slightly from region to region, but a depth of 270mm is a good guide.
It is worth checking the depth annually as old insulation will compress over time, and the guidelines are constantly being reviewed.
Loft insulation is cheap, easy to fit, and will provide a substantial return on investment.
How To Check If Your Home Is Leaking Heat
A quick way to check if your home is leaking heat is to compare your roof and windows with your neighbors during the winter months.
If your roof and windows are clear of frost and snow and theirs are not, then you need to insulate.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to wait for winter, you could contact your local low carbon group or energy engineer.
Simply ask them to bring a thermal imaging camera with them, as it will instantly highlight any areas of concern.
Consider Cavity wall Insulation
If your home has cavity walls, you should consider having a professional insulate these.
The cost is higher, but once again, the financial rewards far outweigh the initial outlay.
Insulate Your Inner Walls
Another cheap way to insulate a house effectively is by putting a layer of drywall on the inner walls of the home.
This will reflect the heat into the rooms and not allow the cold outer walls to absorb and negate it.
A qualified builder could also put insulating layers directly onto the home’s outside walls if the inner areas are inaccessible.
Failing that, stick a jumper on!
Use Radiator Reflectors
Place aluminum foil or reflective panels behind your radiators as these will reflect the heat from the wall to the room.
Without the foil, the heat is constantly being absorbed by the cold wall that the radiator is attached to.
Hang Thicker Curtains
Believe it or not, this does work!
Thick curtains or even blackout curtains have the ability to soak up and retain heat.
This means that the sunlight will not penetrate the home in the summer months, which will keep rooms cool.
Conversely, the inner heat will not fall onto the cold windows in the winter months and be lost through heat transference.
This is an effortless way to insulate a room that will cost you very little but will bring enormous benefits in both money and energy savings.
Insulate Your Home By Planting Trees
This may seem strange when we talk about electricity; however, trees act as nature’s natural heat and cold blockers.
When you are out and about trees, always offer natural shade from the sun or relief from the cold north wind.
So if you want to save money on your electricity bill in an affordable eco-friendly way, Plant trees around your home.
As a bonus, when you Insulate your home naturally from the outside, your heating and cooling costs will reduce every year, and your home will become beautiful.
Install Double Glazing
It is now possible to have glass that reflects the heat from both the external sunlight and the internal fire.
This, combined with improved framing and a larger vacuum gap width, means that the energy savings can be substantial.
In truth, installing or upgrading existing double glazing is one of the home’s greatest energy and money-saving investments.
If you doubt that is true, then here is something you might want to consider…
By simply installing double-glazing windows throughout your house, you could reduce the heat loss by a staggering 54% to 64%.
This equates to about a 10% to 15% saving on your annual energy bills, and the windows will have a life expectancy of about 35 years.
Think Attic When It Comes To Heat Loss
The truth is that your attic plays a major part in your home’s energy performance and running costs.
As your home’s hot air rises, it is replaced with cold air from outside. It sneaks in through all those little air gaps we should have sealed. (as per point two).
If the attic insulation is too thin, the heat does not become trapped in the house but penetrates through the attic and is lost through the roof.
Once there, it continues upward and is eventually pushed out through the roof.
It is then replaced by, yes, you guessed it, cold air coming in through the gaps.
Now you have a natural cycle of cold air constantly being heated, rising, and ejected from the home.
So how do we stop this inefficiency?
Install A Attic Ventilation (Fan)
An attic fan called a powered attic ventilator (PAV) could be installed, which will push the hot air back into the home.
If your home and attic are adequately sealed from the outside air, this could be a money saver.
However, if your home is not adequately sealed, then beware, as the opposite will occur.
As the fan works, it will eventually build up pressure in the home and push the warm air out through the air gaps.
The home will be warm, but the potential saving in electricity will be minimal or lost altogether.
Plus, during the summer months, the sun will heat the attic space, and the fan will push the superheated warm air into the home.
So before you shell out for a fan, consider closing those gaps and improving the roof insulation quality.
Create A Radiant Barrier
What is a radiant barrier, I hear you ask?
Well, think of the shiny metallic cover that you see on the windscreen of a car in summer.
It has only one job; to reflect the sun’s heat away from the car’s interior.
Doing so keeps the interior cool, and that is the purpose of a radiant barrier.
Now think of a radiant barrier between your attic’s inner beams and immediately behind the roofing tiles.
Add a thick layer of insulation over that, then add natural air bricks, a soffit ridge, and gable vents, and the attic is now properly insulated.
The result will be a cool house in the summer and a warm house in winter with working passive ventilation.
With such non-invasive improvements, you can easily live sustainably and save money on your electricity bills for many years.
For some helpful information – Here is an article on how to air seal your attic.
Maintain Or Replace Heating Systems
Old or poorly maintained boilers, furnaces, and heat pumps are not only dangerous, but they can waste a lot of electricity.
These equipment types are usually good for about ten years, but they can last long beyond that.
However, after ten years, there will be a more efficient and safer option available.
So when you are ready to buy a replacement, always look for equipment that’s Energy Star qualified.
To be Energy Star qualified, it must have an energy performance among the top 25% of all similar products.
In addition to this, it must also be certified by an independent third party to provide increased energy efficiency.
Switch To A Renewable Energy Supplier
You no longer need to choose an electricity supplier that only uses nuclear or fossil fuel power stations.
Electricity can now be sourced from suppliers prioritizing power generation from 100% renewable sources.
Others are Phasing in renewable power sources and will allocate you the power from these sources if you request it. (And it is possible to do so).
If you talk to your energy supplier, they may issue you with green energy or renewable energy credits.
These credits can offset your carbon footprint and give you a fixed, affordable electricity rate.
Sometimes just the mere mention of your changing suppliers will prompt the energy company into offering you a cheaper tariff!
This means that just by making one phone call, you may be able to save money on your electricity bill directly.
Suppliers prioritizing power generation from 100% renewable sources are:
- NextEra Energy Resources
- Avangrid Renewables
- Invenergy
- Cypress Creek Renewables
- Acciona Energia
- ExoPlexus
- EDP Renewables North America
- Pattern Energy
- MidAmerican Energy
- Amigo Energy
Install Solar Panels (Off-Grid)
Solar panels generate their own power, and when exposed to direct sunlight a typical solar panel will generate about 300 watts of electricity per hour.
A 10-hour sunny day in summer will produce about 3,000 watts (3 kWh) per day.
If a home uses 15kWh then at least 5 solar panels will be required to supply the house for a 10-hour day.
An off-grid system is not connected to the main grid and all the electricity produced is stored in deep cycle batteries.
An inverter takes the DC power from the batteries and converts it to AC power for use around the home.
The main advantage of an off-grid system is that it is self-contained and has the potential to pay back the initial investment within 5 years if planned properly.
Install Solar Panels (Grid-Connected)
An on-grid system does not store the energy created but relies on an inverter to directly shift the energy produced from DC to AC.
In this system, the homeowner need not worry about producing enough electricity as the grid will supply any shortfall.
Conversely, any overproduction of electricity is fed directly into the grid, and the homeowners’ account is credited with the extra revenue.
Therefore, a grid-connected system is convenient and a good revenue generator that will enable you to save money on your electricity bills and recoup the initial costs quickly.
The average American spends about $1,500 a year on electricity.
This means that if enough solar panels were installed to cover this cost, then the potential savings are $1,500 a year.
However, you still have to pay for any extra electricity you use from the grid.
Personally, I’m not too fond of solar panels on homes as I am concerned about the heavy resources mined to manufacture them.
Nor do I like the fact that they are largely unrecyclable. Solar Panels can last about 25 to 30 years.
Install Solar Motion Detector Lights
Unless you need outside lights for all-night security, it is pointless having them on when there is nobody there to take advantage of them.
Solar lights will give you enough light to see by and will still deter unwelcome visitors.
Not having lights turning off and on all night as the wildlife passes will definitely help you to save money on your electricity bills.
Use Solar Chargers
Solar chargers are a great money-saving source of power for your small electronics. Use them to charge your Apple products and smartphones, plus many other items you may own.
Multiple Power Sources
FosPower [2020 Upgraded Version] 4000mAh Emergency Solar Hand Crank Portable Radio, NOAA Weather Radio Power Bank USB Charger For Household/Outdoor Emergency With AM/FM, LED Flashlight, And SOS Alarm
Install A Solar Water Heater
So long as you have enough daily sunlight, this might be an option for you and could save you up to $200 a year on electricity bills.
Indeed many of the newer solar heaters boast a saving of about 70% on water heating utility bills.
Solar water heaters may be expensive for you to purchase at this time, but they are occasionally eligible for government or manufacturer rebates.
If you live in a high sunlight area, then investigating solar heaters may be the right thing to do.
Install A Smart Meter
There are many ways to reduce your electricity usage, but you must first understand when and where you are using it to reduce it.
This is why I recommend getting a smart meter.
These clever little devices will track your energy usage and show you how much you use each day.
You simply turn each appliance on/off separately to see the energy used and the cost calculated.
Seeing your usage and costing like this often helps you determine which devices are energy efficient and which need replacing, as well as the time of day you should be running them.
Consider Home Automation (Connected Devices)
Many of our energy-guzzling home appliances can now be linked via wifi and controlled through an app on our phones.
These so-called “smart” appliances can do lots of wonderful things, not least of all, save you money.
You can buy “smart” lights, thermostats, fridges, cookers, and even washing machines.
Some of them are even so smart that they will talk to each other and cut you out of the picture altogether!
So why program your heating when you can turn it on from your phone before you leave for home?
Why turn on your lights when you can have them detect where you are and turn themselves on or off, or even dim down in your presence.
Using current technology in this way, you can really make big inroads into saving money on your electricity costs.
Home automation through connected devices is here and will change the way we look at energy forever.
Buy A-Rated Appliances
It is well worth doing your research and weighing up the long-term costs before buying any new appliance.
Plus, a quality-built, A-rated machine can last you approximately 15 years with little to no maintenance.
Furthermore, the new appliance will continually save you money by reducing your ongoing electricity costs and be more economical with the earth’s resources.
If you truly want to live sustainably, save money, and lower your electricity costs, then buying a new Energy Star, an A-rated quality appliance, should be a no-brainer.
An Energy Star clothes washer, for instance, can use up to 50% less water and electricity than a standard one.
That’s a massive saving on just one wash!
Buying quality does not always mean buying expensive either. Shop around and haggle if you need to. Honestly, I do it all the time and estimate that I have saved thousands over the years.
Believe me, independents, and some chains, are happy to haggle if it means they can secure a deal!
Choose Not To Use Appliances
If it’s a nice day, the cheapest and best way to live sustainably and save money on your electricity bills is not to use your appliances at all!
Line drying your clothes is not only good for the environment, but it is actually better for your clothes too!
Don’t boil that kettle or make that expresso; choose a nice cool drink or a glass of refreshing tap water. Tap water is actually healthier than bottled.
Leave the electric car at home and walk or cycle to your destination. Again this is better for the body in both mental and physical health.
A good tip for this is to start a new healthy habit and start to think like this:
- If the journey is under two miles, walk.
- Under-five miles, cycle
- Over ten miles, the car
There are many other examples of when not to use appliances. However, we often get into repetitive bad habits rather than considering the alternatives or the cost.
Don’t Use Plug-in Air Fresheners.
Plug-in air fresheners are a constant draw on your electricity usage and are of little to no benefit.
Furthermore, they often carry phthalates which can cause allergic symptoms and asthma in humans.
Plus, the chemicals in strong fragrances can be toxic and dangerous to some pets.
Save yourself the worry and the added electricity costs by fragrancing your home more naturally.
Set Up A Yearly Maintenance Schedule
If you want your car to run at peak efficiency, you send it to the garage once a year for a service. So why don’t you do this to your electrical appliances?
Just like a car, the inner workings of appliances can become clogged up over time and less efficient.
Check the vents, drainage holes, filters, fans, and belts for dust and grime.
The less dust you have blocking your appliances’ workings, the quieter, smoother, and cooler they will run.
You must always remember to unplug them first, though, and only get a qualified technician to look at the important stuff.
You will be surprised at how much you can save by just doing a yearly clean of appliances.
Schedule Yearly HVAC Maintenance
Increase your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) life expectancy and performance by having it inspected and cleaned to a schedule.
Doing this will reduce breakdown costs, deliver cleaner air, and ensure that it works at peak efficiency.
You could also set a reminder on your phone for filter inspection and replacement throughout the year.
This is one of those tasks which could go unnoticed, forcing the unit to overheat and be an energy drain.
So while at first glance, this may seem like an extra expense. But, ultimately, it will save you money and electricity usage in the long run.
Fix That Leaky Faucet
While we are on the subject of maintenance, it’s time to fix that leak. It may not seem like much, but a leaky faucet on a hot water tap will cost you money.
Don’t believe me?
If you want to find out how much that leak is costing you, then the American Water Works Association has a drip calculator that you can use to find out.
Install Tap Aerators
A tap aerator is a simple little device that is easy to install and is designed to reduce water flow by up to 50% without a perceived loss of pressure.
It does this by adding air into the system.
This means that you are heating less water, thereby using less energy and effectively reducing costs.
Tap aerators are also easy to fit and, in most cases, will only cost a few dollars.
Bleed The Air From Your Radiators
If you touch the top section of your radiator, does it feel cooler than the bottom half?
If it does, it means that there is air trapped in the system, and your boiler is working harder and using more energy than it needs to.
That’s because your radiators work alongside your boiler, meaning you’re paying for the same amount of energy without getting the benefit of all that heat.
Fortunately, it’s a swift and easy fix that can save you lots of money.
Here’s how to do it without calling out a heating engineer.
- Turn on the central heating.
- Feel all the radiators in the home
- Switch off the heating
- Find the bleed valve (top left or right corner)
- Place a rag under the bleed screw.
- Loosen the bleed screw (careful the water will be hot)
- Wait for the hissing to stop, and the water starts escaping.
- Re-tighten the bleed valve and clean up drips
- Turn the heating on and check the radiators.
You may need to repeat the process but go to the boiler once you are happy that all the air has been drained from the system.
Check that the system has enough pressure within it, normally about 12 to 15 psi.
If not, top up the pressure by using the filling loop on your boiler. It looks like either a tap or a lever on the main water supply to your boiler.
Turn Off The Ice Maker
In order for your ice maker to drop the ice into the tray, it has to have a protected motor to do so.
This motor has its own dedicated little heater to stop it from freezing up in a cold environment, and it is always on.
Now that may not seem like a big deal. However, that little heater increases the unit’s energy consumption by a whopping 12% to 20%!
So why not just turn it off, buy an ice tray and then pocket the savings.
Consider A Power Strip (Surge Protector)
Power Strip, Bototek Surge Protector With 10 AC Outlets And 4 USB Charging
Overload Protection–surge protector with overload protection protects against spikes and fluctuations. Intelligent circuitry with built-in voltage sensing detects and responds to your device’s power needs, while safety features ensure that your devices are protected
These multi- socketed strips protect your devices from sudden power surges and are designed to trip out so your devices don’t get nuked!
However, they also provide other uses.
Firstly, they effectively clean the electric current going to your devices such as the TV, computer, VCR, and so on.
Cleaning the current means that the devices are more stable in their operation and can last longer.
Secondly, All the sockets can be powered down by one switch, meaning you can save significantly on electricity costs and trim your electricity usage.
Unplug Your Devices
A power strip may turn off the other devices, but it will still be drawing power to power itself.
This is true of many devices, and those left on standby are easily the most power-hungry culprits.
Did you know that items left on standby can use up to 85% of the energy they would use if left fully switched on?
Imagine your TV doing all the things it would normally do but with no picture or sound to get an idea of this.
In the Uk, a comparison site, MoneySuperMarket.com, found that a TV box such as Sky or Virgin-Media can be a big energy drain. If these products are switched on but the TV is switched off, they can still cost the household over £27 or $33 a year.
So you see $33 per year on just one device.
Even the humble iPhone charger uses about 13 cents per year, and that’s tiny! So if you really want to live sustainably and save money on your electricity costs, UNPLUG IT!
Keep The Fridge And Freezer Full
A well-stocked freezer does not have to work as hard as an empty one, so just by filling it up, you can save money over the year.
Frozen or chilled food acts as insulation and lessens the time for these appliances to return to temperature once the door has been opened.
Similarly, if you put warm or hot food into the fridge, it will have to work harder to return to temperature.
Plus, warm or hot food placed into a fridge will cause damage over time.
So save yourself the headache of a potential repair bill plus the added electricity expense and never put warm food in the fridge.
Change To Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
The light produced by an incandescent light bulb uses only 10% to 15% of the energy used to power it.
The rest of the energy goes into creating heat, which you will know if you have ever been near one.
By making the switch to LED energy-efficient light bulbs, you can significantly reduce your energy costs.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, residential LEDs — especially ENERGY STAR-rated products — use at least 75% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.
Therefore, not only do energy-efficient light bulbs save on electricity costs, but they also last longer.
This means that you can live sustainably and save money just by changing a light bulb.
This is your light bulb moment! (See what I did there.)
Install Dimmer Switches
With advancements in technology, dimmer switches now use less power than they once did.
Unlike in the past, today’s dimmers can now reduce the energy consumption required by dimmable LEDs.
This means that roughly 50% brightness equates to 50% of the power used or 50% saving off the normal cost.
As a bonus dimming the light will also allow the bulbs to run cooler, extending their life expectancy.
Always Do A Full Load Of Washing
Washing machines work to their maximum efficiency when they are washing a full load.
Try to avoid washing multiple small loads as the cost of all this extra energy will build up over the year.
Why go to the trouble of buying an A+++ Energy Star rated machine and then not use it efficiently?
Use Cold Water When Washing Clothes
Turning down your washing machine’s temperature or running it cold could see your electricity costs reduced alongside other benefits.
In today’s world, advancements in materials, fabrics, and washing powders mean that washing at hotter temperatures is no longer a guarantee of effective cleaning.
Indeed some stains and creases will actually set into clothes if washed too hot.
Always follow the guidelines on the labels and consider turning the heat down.
In this way, you can save money on your electricity and improve your wash simultaneously.
Choose To Line Dry
Tumble dryers have big motors, blowers, and heaters to spin and dry your clothes.
This makes them a huge drain on your electricity costs. So whenever you can, take the cheaper option and choose to line dry your clothes.
The sunshine and wind are free and will actually extend the life of your fabrics.
As a bonus, the creases in your clothes will fall out, making your ironing easier. As a man, I am all about doing less!
If you use a dryer, remember to clean out the filters regularly to keep the dryer running efficiently.
Fill The Dishwasher
Just like a washing machine, your dishwasher will work at its peak efficiency when it is full.
Studies have also shown that a full dishwasher is actually more energy-efficient than washing the dishes by hand.
Run your dishwasher at night to take advantage of the cheaper tariffs and, if possible, cancel the hot, dry program.
The dishes will air dry with the door open just fine, so there is no need to spend money blow drying them.
Ensure that your dishwasher is Energy Star certified, as older models can be quite energy-intensive.
Take Advantage Of Cheaper Electricity
Many electricity providers have different tariffs for different customers and for different times of the day.
It’s best practice to check your bills and speak to your energy provider to cut your costs effectively.
Once they speak to you on a one-to-one basis, they can set the right tariff to suit your circumstances.
Plus, they will advise you at what times their cheaper electricity comes online.
This is usually overnight, but you need to know the start and finish times to take full advantage of them.
Once you have this information, you can set your appliances to work during these hours.
You should definitely be setting your dishwasher, tumble dryer, and washing machine to be active during these off-peak electricity hours.
This will substantially reduce your electricity costs and is one of the easiest habit changes to make.
Lag That Tank
If your heating system has a hot water tank, you must ensure that it is protected with a thick thermal jacket.
Unnecessary heat loss through a thin or damaged jacket can increase your energy consumption enormously over the year.
If you need to, invest in a new jacket whatever the cost. I promise you it will be worth it.
Boil Only What You Need
If you truly want to live sustainably, save money and reduce your electricity costs, then boil only what you need.
By doing this, you are saving water, its processing cost of water, and the energy it takes to boil it.
Think of these savings with every kettle you fill and every pan you boil.
This small change will add up to a large saving over the year as rapidly boiling water can be expensive.
Next time you boil a kettle, watch your smart meter spin!
Move Your Fridge
Believe it or not, where you place your fridge can directly impact how hard it has to work and, therefore, how much energy it is using.
Ideally, your fridge should be in a cool and shady environment with plenty of ventilation.
You should also ensure that your fridge is not placed in direct sunlight or next to a heat source.
Radiators, cookers, and tumble dryers will fit into this heat source category.
By doing this one simple thing, you will ensure that it runs at optimal efficiency.
Furthermore, you will undoubtedly extend its lifespan and probably reduce its maintenance costs.
Consider A Toaster Oven
Using smaller versions of traditional appliances is usually cheaper, faster, and more environmentally friendly than the original large appliance.
In essence, it just comes down to using the right size product for the task at hand.
This is why a toaster oven can beat a conventional oven in the “use less electricity race.”
Toaster ovens can heat up and cook food quicker, and if you combine it with a microwave, you get the best of both worlds.
Microwave When Possible
A microwave uses even less power than a toaster oven and is far more versatile.
There are literally hundreds of things that you can cook in a microwave, and it’s certainly not for just reheating coffee!
If you haven’t got a toaster oven, then know that a microwave uses about 20% of the energy of a full-sized conventional oven.
So you can save some serious money on your electricity bills by choosing your microwave before your oven.
If you want to save money on cleaning materials and keep your microwave running efficiently, please read: How to clean a microwave – 14 exceptional methods + recipes.
Use A Pressure Cooker
Just like a microwave can speed up the cooking process and use less energy, a pressure cooker can do the same.
It is estimated that a pressure cooker can reduce your cooking time by up to 70%.
This represents a serious reduction in your electricity usage and quite a saving over the year.
Many websites specialize in pressure cooker recipes, so you should never get bored.
Open A Window
This might sound obvious, but sometimes the older habits are the ones that we do not see.
Before you turn on that extractor fan, think about opening a window instead.
No electricity used equates to no cost to you!
Put Lids On Pans
Let’s keep this simple.
Why steam up the kitchen, extend cooking times, and use more energy when a pan lid can reduce all that for you.
Take Shorter Showers
We all know that a shower uses less water and, therefore, less energy than a bath.
But did you know that by reducing your daily shower time by just one minute, you could save over a thousand gallons of water per year?
This is calculated at the shower using up an average of 5 gallons of water a minute.
So by taking shorter showers, you can save on the energy costs of heating one thousand gallons of water.
Install Low-Flow Showerheads
In addition to taking less time in the shower, why not reduce the flow at the same time.
A low-flow showerhead can reduce the water flow to 2.5 to 3 gallons per minute.
This means saving water and reducing your electricity bills as less water means less heating, and less electricity used.
Turn Down The Water Heater
Do you turn on the hot tap and then cool the water with water from the cold tap?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone, but why do we do that? Guess what it’s one of those bad habits that we no longer notice anymore.
The energy-savvy amongst us don’t do that.
These people constantly keep the water at a lower temperature and only turn the water heater up in winter.
So why do they do that?
Well, they know that the common standard setting is around 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, by adjusting it down to 120 degrees, they could save up to a massive 10% heating cost!
Final Thoughts
So there we have it. Your guide on how to live sustainably, be eco-friendly, and save money on your electricity costs is over.
A lot comes down to just making the right sensible, ethical, and well-thought-out deliberate choices.
Plus, choosing to face up to a few unhealthy habits and dropping them for healthy ones.
I Hope You Enjoyed 50 Crazy Simple Ways to Save Money On Your Electricity Bills.
Now Go And Make Those Changes!
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