HOW TO LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC BILL
Eager to learn how to lower your electric bill? Follow along with APGE and get the inside scoop. Living in a digital world has made it easy for us to have control over an almost endless list of things, right from the touch of our hands. There’s an app for just about anything. From managing our stocks to ordering food that gets delivered straight to our doorstep. And if your hands are full, there’s a smart speaker that can help you. If you’re looking for the perfect example of putting the power in the hands of the consumer, you don’t have to look far. People are “quitting cable” and switching to a streaming service at a higher rate than ever.
According to Forbes, “since 2012, pay-TV lost 10 million subscribers. Over-the-top networks such as Hulu, Netflix, Amazon and a slew of competitors offer high-quality television and OTTS cost about a tenth of the average monthly cable bill.” This recent trend among consumers proves how millions of Americans are looking into their personal finances and trying to cut costs on their “must-haves."
1. What About Electricity?
One thing you can’t live without is electricity. It gets delivered (link to What are TDSP Charges) in various ways, comes from an array of sources, but the end result is the same. Power. Some use more than others, and some of us don’t use a lot, but if you’ve ever wondered “why is my electric bill so high,” then APGE can help. It’s easier than you think to reduce your electricity bill no matter where you live.
One of the first things you can do is to create energy savings by investing in energy efficiency. What’s energy efficiency? Energy efficiency simply means using less energy to perform the same task – that is, eliminating energy waste as defined by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute.
2. Home Energy Audit
The best place to start when working towards energy efficiency is a home energy audit. Home energy audits can help identify where your home is losing energy and what steps you can take to improve energy efficiency. Auditors can ensure that your home is up to standard, or they might uncover hidden problems within your home.
We recommended hiring a professional to conduct a home energy audit, so you can get your Home Energy Score. This will provide a rating of your home’s current efficiency, potential savings, as well as any improvements needed such as new light bulbs, doors, windows, hot water heater, or other items. Overall, a home energy audit can increase your home’s resale value and marketability, improve comfort, and help you save money by preventing further energy waste.
3. Energy Efficient Appliances
Energy-efficient appliances play an important role in today’s world that goes well beyond your electric bill. Energy-efficient homes reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gases and demand for nonrenewable resources. Energy.Gov recommends the Whole-House Systems Approach that considers all variables, details, and interactions that affect energy use in your home. In addition to occupant behavior, site conditions, and climate, these include:
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Appliances and home electronics
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Insulation on air sealing
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Lighting and daylighting
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Space heating and cooling
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Water heating
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Windows, doors, and skylights
For the average American household, almost half of the annual bill goes towards heating and cooling. Therefore, making the investment into your HVAC system, insulation or even double-pane windows may seem like a lot upfront but the long term return will be much greater. However, if you recently had a home energy audit and are only looking to make a few upgrades to your appliances or electronics, then there’s only one place to start. Be sure to only shop for ENERGY STAR certified appliances or products. Most energy efficiency products that are on the market today will be noticeably marked with an ENERGY STAR label making them easy to identify.
4. Energy Efficiency Technology
Another easy upgrade for your home is a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats are a simple way to really take control of your electric bill and have only gotten better over time. Programmable thermostats let you control your home settings from virtually almost anywhere which gives you the power to truly reduce your electricity bill from the touch of a button. Being smart about how you control your air conditioner will help you save money and stay comfortable.
If you’re not able to install a smart thermostat, another top tech gadget for your home is a smart plug. They’re a step above power strips and a great way to dip into some of the home automation that consumers are after these days. Smart plugs connect directly into an outlet and will give you basic control over anything you plug them into. They almost always work with some type of voice assistant and will give you that little extra control inside your home. Here are some of the best smart plugs for your home that we’ve found. If you are ready to lower your electricity bill, then contact APGE today. 1.877.544.4857
Tips for Lowering Your Energy Bill
There comes a time where almost everyone will get at least one bill and ask themselves, why is my electric bill so high. There are different variables that can cause the cost to fluctuate, but you can still take control. An example being, maybe you have poor insulation and don’t have the money to fix it. It may feel like your electric costs are completely out of your hands now, but don’t be fooled. You have more control than you think and can still save energy. We’ll look at some tips to help you lower your electric bill that doesn’t require a huge upfront investment.
Did you know that there are certain devices sitting around your home that are “energy hogs?” Energy hogs use more energy than they need to and make a huge difference in your energy bill. They can also use phantom power, otherwise known as vampire power. Even if they’re turned off or are not in use, these devices are still using power just by being plugged into a power outlet.
Curious as to what the top energy hog offenders are? Check out the 10 surprising energy hogs in your home and what you can do to help get your energy bill back on track. In the meantime, read some of our top 5 hacks that will help you slash your electric bill that are so simple, anyone can do them.
5 Energy Saving Hacks To Lower Your Electric Bill
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Use an Energy Monitor.
Wondering how much electricity a device actually uses? One simple way to identify what might be driving up your monthly bill is to plug any electronic device into the Belkin WeMo Insight Plug, and you can then monitor its usage on your smartphone with the app to learn what it’s costing you. -
Change Your Air Filters.
In order to perform efficiently, your home’s filters need to be maintained regularly. Not only can a dirt-clogged filter potentially cause damage to a system as a whole, but it also causes the system to work harder to circulate air throughout the house. -
Do More Efficient Laundry.
You don’t have to use hot water when using your washing machine. When you wash your clothes in cold water they will still come out clean. Also, when drying your clothes don’t overfill the dryer. If you don’t leave enough space for the hot air to circulate, your laundry will take more time to dry. Lastly, always be sure to empty the lint drawer before each cycle so your dryer operates at its highest efficiency. -
Maintain an Efficient Fridge.
For starters, set your temperature to the recommended setting of 37 degrees Fahrenheit for the fridge and 0 degrees Fahrenheit for the freezer. Any colder than that and you’re just wasting power. Your fridge should be about three-quarters full –to allow enough room for the cold air to circulate. If you can, clean the coils on the back of the fridge several times each year – and resist the temptation to store things up top as these items can prevent hot air from escaping and will cause your unit to work overtime. -
Watch Your Wash Cycle.
Start washing your dishes in a different way: Use shorter eco-friendly cycles for all of your loads (except for the extremely dirty ones) and try to hold off starting a wash until the load is completely full. Make sure to set your dishwasher to air-dry rather than heat-dry to cut the appliance's electricity use by 15 to 20 percent. If you don’t have the air-dry option built-in just simply set the dishwasher to turn off after the final rinse and open the door.
Our biggest costs are derived from heating and cooling, but hopefully, you’ve learned some new ways to help reduce your energy usage, and in turn, save money on your energy bill. If you’re looking to have a better understanding of your electric bill, check out our helpful guide based on where you live. Save money by choosing APGE, you can enroll today.
