With summer coming around the corner, you may be getting weary about your increasing utility bills. Especially with your A/C pumping through the hot summer months, it can be overwhelming and costly to see your usage rates increase. But fear not, there are many ways you can lower your electricity bill without sacrificing the cool air of your air conditioning system.

Vampire Sources

When you leave your home and turn off all the lights, you may think you’re saving as much energy as you can. But that’s not necessarily true. You may have what are called ‘vampire sources’ that are sucking out electricity without you even knowing it. Vampire sources are appliances that you leave plugged in all the time that are using electricity 24 hours a day. While some appliances need to be plugged in at all times, e.g. your fridge, freezer, microwave, etc., others do not. Think about appliances you only use once a day, maybe your toaster or coffee maker. To save money on your electrical bill, unplug the appliances that serve no use being on at every hour.

Insufficient Light Bulbs

Lightbulb technology has come a long way. When selecting bulbs for your home, there is a variety to choose from, halogen bulbs, incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The main difference between these lightbulbs is how much energy they use. Compact fluorescent bulbs and incandescent emit light and heat in multiple directions, which cause them to be highly energy inefficient. LED lightbulbs are the best choice in lighting from an energy efficiency standpoint. When compared to incandescent bulbs, LEDs use roughly 75% less energy, which makes them more environmentally friendly and cheaper in the long run.

Old Appliances

Depending on the amount of time you’ve had your home, you may have appliances that are starting to get older. The older your appliances, the more energy they’re probably using to function. Newer appliances have adapted energy-efficient qualities that make them less wasteful and also cheaper from a utility bill standpoint. If your appliances are starting to age out of their prime, consider replacing them with more energy-efficient models. Energy-efficient models have been shown to save nearly 4x the electricity than standard types. Today, there are energy-efficient options for nearly every appliance, including ovens, fridges, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and more.

Overusing Appliances

Home appliances make our lives easier and often more efficient. But, using your appliances too much can also reduce your energy efficiency. You should always be running your appliances when they are filled to capacity. For example, running your dishwasher when it’s half-empty doesn’t use half the energy—it uses the full energy for only half the content. This same principle goes for your clothes washing machine and dryer. When possible, you should always be running your appliances when they are full so you can make the most of your energy expenditure.

Poor Insulation

Your home’s insulation can play a large part in the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Insulation is the material that’s packed into the walls of your home to ensure the indoor temperature stays consistent, and so that when you heat or cool your home, the hot and cold air stays trapped inside. Homes with poor insulation lose heated and cooled air quickly, causing your HVAC systems to work harder and longer than they would normally need to. This not only uses a ton of energy, but it can seriously increase the price of your utility bills.

Extreme Weather

Sometimes throughout the year, we’ll see bouts of extreme weather that we didn’t expect. Whether it’s a random heatwave or a cold temperature drop, it can be tempting to run to the thermostat and adjust the temperature to reflect what’s going on outside. But, the best option to save money and energy is to simply focus on keeping your internal temperature consistent. If it’s a bit chillier, throw on an extra sweater. If you’re feeling hot, crack open a window. Running to adjust your thermostat at any brief change in weather can cause your system to use even more energy than it would be staying at a consistent program.

Poor Thermostat Habits

When it comes to looking at increases in your energy bill, it is important to remember that it’s not just how often you’re using your appliances but how you schedule your programs day-to-day. Most people manually adjust their thermostat depending on how they’re currently feeling. But actually, setting up automated programs can help you avoid any unnecessary usage. A smart thermostat can help you to avoid running your HVAC systems when you’re not home or while you’re asleep, saving you money and energy. Even adjusting your temperature situations at home can save you a lot in the long run. Studies show that adjusting your indoor temperature by a degree in either direction can save you 6% on your energy bill. So next time you’re at home and you’re feeling a bit hot, shed off a layer instead of turning up the air conditioner.

Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical

Expert Services- Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical has been offering top-tier electrical, plumbing, and HVAC services to Salt Lake and Utah counties for over ten years. Our team promises dependability, affordability, and quality in all that we do. We offer emergency help 24/7 and are ready to tackle any of your plumbing, electrical, heating, and air needs.

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