Due to the pandemic and winter approaching, we're spending more time at home than usual. More time at home equals a bigger electricity bill. What's worse, with the recent electricity prices spike, utility bills will feel more taxing than ever. Have you searched online on how to lower electric bills at home? You'll probably come across tips like "switch off the lights when you're not using them" or "hang dry your clothes." These suggestions are helpful to an extent. Also, pretty obvious, right? Well, this blog isn't about the obvious tips but about newer and smarter ways to save electricity. So we've rounded up a list of 10 clever ways to save on electric bills. You're welcome!
Before starting with any electricity-saving habits, it's essential to know how much electricity you're actually using. You could use an online auditing tool, download an auditing app, or get a professional to do it. Once you've finalized your electricity audit, it's much easier to identify areas to reduce your energy usage.
<aside> đŸ› Energy audits are a very affordable way to save money on electricity. And many local utilities provide this service for little or no cost.
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Related: 7 Common Excuses For Not Having A Personal Budget & How To Beat Them
Your heating and cooling systems are, without a doubt, the biggest guzzlers of energy in your home. The chart below shows you the electricity usage for an average apartment. Take a look at the share for heating and cooling:
If you can replace your heating or cooling systems with a new, more energy-efficient model - great! According to energy.gov, you will save between 20–40% in energy costs.
You can guarantee you're getting an efficient model by checking two things. One is the seasonal energy efficiency ratio [(SEER) rating](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_energy_efficiency_ratio#:~:text=The SEER rating of a unit is the,unit (BTU) to the energy consumed in watt-hours.), and the other is by looking for an Energy Star certified model.
Once you install your system, you'll want to check that it works efficiently. If not, your heating and cooling system may end up working harder than it needs to.
This brings us to the next step in lowering electric bills: sealing any air leaks.
Utility bills skyrocket during the summer and winter, because... That's when people use their cooling or heating systems more. If your doors and windows aren't sealed properly, the indoor temperature will be affected. Didn't think of that one, right? You can easily avoid this by checking your window and door seals frequently. There is a cheap and easy way of making sure your doors and windows are properly sealed—pressure-sensitive weather strips. Buying weather strips costs less than $15 and can save you up to 20% on your energy bill.