Here are a few ways to save on electric bill during the warm months.
Summer time is just around the corner. I can’t wait for the slow pace of summer and the fun memories we will make. The only downside to summer is the increase in the electricity bill! It gets hot around here, which means we run our Air Conditioner a lot. I have researched a few ways to save money on electricity this summer and wanted to share them with you. I hope these tips will help you save on your electric bill!
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1. Seal Leaks
When trying to save money on electricity it’s important to check for leaks around the windows and exterior doors of your home. These leaks lets the hot air in during the summer, which is exactly what we don’t want!
Spend some time checking all of your doors and windows for leaks. Many of them you will be able to see, but others might require a little more searching.
One tip I have used before is to wet my hand and hold it around the door or window. It there is a leak my hand will feel cold due to the slight breeze.
Once you determine where your air leaks are you will need to seal them off. This can be done with caulking and/or weather strips.
2. Close Your Curtains and Blinds
Give your home added insulation by closing your window blinds and curtains on hot summer days. This will keep your home cool and the heat out. Keep in mind that heavier curtains will insulate better!
3. Use Ceiling Fans
Do you have ceiling fans in your home? Use them to help keep yourself and your house cool. Ceiling fans are much cheaper to run than an air conditioner. Remember, they only cool you if you’re sitting under them, so turn them off when you aren’t in the room, no need to use electricity when it isn’t benefiting you!
4. Open Windows To Let In The Breeze
If you live in an area that gets cool in the evenings, use this to your advantage! Open up your windows, turn off the air conditioner and let the cool breeze in during the cooler hours of the day. We like to keep our windows open up all night, and then in the morning we shut them to trap the cool air in for as long as possible. It makes the house really cold in the morning, but it is worth it!
5. Spend More Time In The Basement
It’s no secret that heat rises, so spend more time in your basement. The more time you hang out downstairs, the less you will need to run your expensive A/C.
We like to head to the basement in the afternoon, right when the heat starts to rise. It’s always nice and cool and a good change of scenery!
6. Unplug Devices
A device plugged into the wall will use energy (which costs you money), even if it’s not in use. Get into the habit of unplugging all devices and appliances when you are not using them. So, the next time you finish using your toaster, coffee maker, phone charger, etc. unplug it from the wall and you will see your utility bill begin to decrease.
7. Use LED Bulbs
As your old incandescent light bulbs burn out, replace them with LED light bulbs. The cost upfront is more expensive, but so worth it in the long run. LED light bulbs last longer and uses less electricity than a traditional light bulb. Check out this Light Bulb Showdown article to see the huge life time savings in this one simple change.
8. Keep Lights Off
Another way to lower your electricity bill is to keep household lights off as much as possible. Turn off all lights when you leave a room and when the sun is shining.
A few months ago we found our utility bills a little high, so we had a talk with our kids reminding them to please turn off lights when they aren’t using them. The kids responded well, and the next month we were so happy to see our electricity bill decrease! Turning lights off truly makes a difference!
9. Increase Thermostat Setting
Try increasing your thermostat setting by a few degrees. We try to keep ours at 78 degrees during the summer months. Every degree you can raise your thermostat will make a difference in your electricity bill.
If 78 feels high, try increasing it just 1 degree every few weeks. Your body will adjust to the higher temps and it won’t feel as hot if you do this slowly.
10. Use Your Grill
Ditch your oven and do more cooking outside on the grill. The heat from the oven contributes to heating the house, resulting in your A/C unit needing to be ran more. Keep that heat outside by using your grill more often.
Get creative with your meals! Did you know you can grill a pizza??? You can! We do it all the time and love it!
In Conclusion
Choose two or three (or all ten) of these tips and start implementing them into your routine. If you stay consistent you will see a change in your electricity bill immediately.
You Might Enjoy These Related Articles:
- 8 Ways to Save Money on Utilities This Winter
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- Extreme Ways to Cut Your Budget
Pin For Reference Next Summer:
Those are good ideas, Mel. I’m going to try some whenever we need to.
I hope they help!