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Tips to Reduce Your Home Energy Bill

Americans are paying much more for home energy than they have in the past. For most adults, saving money on utilities is a priority. You can’t control the price of your utilities, but you can control how much you use. The key is to find the ones you can use over the long term.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the price of utility bills increased by 4.3% from 2020 to 2021. That makes it the second-largest jump in these costs within the past decade.

On average, Americans spend 13.7 cents per kilowatt on residential electricity. While the price of electricity is increasing, the amount used is decreasing, but not by much. From 2020 to 2021, there was an average of 1-kilowatt-hour dip per month with most homes in the country averaging 892 kilowatt-hours.

Use Timers on Lights and Electronics

Timers control the use of electricity by turning electronics on and off at specific times. These are ideal for things like lamps and other things that can safely have the power to them turned off. You wouldn’t want to use a timer on a refrigerator or freezer because your food could go bad due to temperature fluctuations.

Insulate Your Home from the Outside

Retractable shades for your Cincinnati porchHomes that are insulated use less electricity to heat and cool them. There are many ways that you can do this. Having mature trees around the home can prevent the heat from the sun from hitting the home, which can reduce the cooling costs during the summer. Shades, blinds, and insulating curtains can help to lower the heating and cooling costs of your home.

The windows are one area of the home that isn’t easy to insulate. Retractable shades on the exterior are an option that can help to protect the home from the summer heat and winter coolness. Some options, such as those from Shock Screens, are motorized and easy to use once they are installed on the home.

Upgrade Appliances

Upgrade the appliances in your home to save money on usage costs. Older appliances aren’t as energy efficient as newer models. This means that the decades-old refrigerator that keeps the beverages in the game room cold likely needs to be replaced with a newer model.

You also need to check on other major appliances, such as dishwashers, HVAC units, and hot water heaters to determine if they’re energy-efficient. If they’re older, replacing them as you can helps you to save money on your electric bill.

Run Appliances Only When Full

You should only run the washer, dryer, and dishwasher when they have a full load. Doing partial loads uses the same amount of electricity as doing a full load. You can even go a step further and turn off the heated drying function in the dishwasher. Hang clothes up on a line outside to dry so you can save money by not using the dryer.

Change the Light Bulbs

LED light bulbs cost a little more than regular bulbs at first, but they last a up to 25 times longer and use at least 75% less energy, according to Energy.gov. You can find LED lights for the holiday, appliances, and regular light fixtures.

While they aren’t always LED, solar lights on the exterior of the home can also save you money. These lights are available in a variety of styles and types to suit every need.

It’s always best to focus on making investments in your home that will save you money in the long run. Taking the time to ensure that your home is well maintained and as energy efficient as possible is imperative for homeowners. While you might have to spend money to get things done to your home, all the costs you’re covering right now should help you to save a bundle in the future.

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