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How to Save Electricity at Home Year-Round

by Garrett Faden

In this blog, we will provide all the tips you need to know to improve your home's energy efficiency.

Ever wonder why your electricity bill is so high? Ever wonder what in your home is causing the bill to be so high? Here are over 20 tips to reduce energy consumption at home and save money on your electricity bills.

In addition to making your home as energy efficient as possible, be sure to let Energy Ogre do the research of finding the cheapest rate for you and keeping you in the best plan. Sign up right here!

In this article:


Save Money on Heat and Air Conditioning

HVAC is the Most Expensive Thing on Your Electric Bill

The most important area to consider when trying to save money on your electricity bill is air conditioning. According to energystar.gov, roughly 43% of your yearly bill is air conditioning. One way you can start cutting down on unnecessary air conditioning costs is the thermostat.



Program Your Thermostat to Conserve Energy

Scheduling your thermostat can reduce your energy consumption, and switching to a smart thermostat can help you save even more on your electricity bill! With a smart thermostat, a homeowner can set specific home and away settings for their air conditioning.

Take a look at some smart thermostat solutions here too! The Best Smart Thermostat

Use AC in an Energy Efficient Way

Before you start running the AC, make sure you’ve had the filter replaced and close all vents to rooms that you don’t need to cool to prevent paying for AC electricity you’re not using. Or, try cooling your home naturally with fans and natural breezes! Remember, always make sure your HVAC system is checked at least once a year by a professional to ensure all parts are operating correctly. 

Heat Your Home Efficiently

Electricity bills tend to rise during the winter months due to high heater usage. Besides using blankets or wearing more layers of clothing during those cold winter days, making sure your home is as efficient at retaining heat as possible is key. For more information on having proper door & window insulation and more, check out Energy-Efficient Ways to Keep your House Warm in the Winter and Save on Heat.

Unplug Energy-Draining Household Appliances

Optimize Appliances with High Power Demands

It’s time to take a look at upgrading your large household appliances to newer, more efficient options. Buying new appliances can be a big investment upfront but you’ll be racking up savings in no time. 

Below are features of energy efficient appliances with higher power demands. These appliances include water heaters, dishwashers, refrigerators, and washers & dryers.

  • Lower maintenance costs

  • Potential tax benefits for water heaters

  • Smaller size of water heaters

  • Longer lifespans

  • Less water usage for dishwashers

  • Air dry feature instead of heat drying for dishwashers

  • Food is kept fresh longer in refrigerators

  • Potential rebates for refrigerators

  • According to Albert Lee Appliances, "Dryers that meet the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) save at least 20 percent of the energy versus non-efficient dryers. Washers use around 25 percent less energy and 33 percent less water."

Check out even more details about large appliances here: Large Appliances That Raise Your Electric Bill.

Unplug Smaller Energy-Draining Appliances

Did you know that appliances still consume energy when they are turned off? Household items like TVs or gaming consoles are constantly consuming energy while being turned off or in standby mode while plugged in. Find out more about the epidemic known as “vampire energy” here: Small Energy-Draining Appliances That Raise Your Power Bill.

Use Smart Appliances to Conserve Electricity

These Devices are Made to Save Money on Your Electric Bill

Smart power strips

  • Automatically turns off devices if it senses they are in standby mode 

  • Can operate on a timer 

  • Some can even sense motion to optimize lamp usage

Eco chargers

  • A couple of alternatives to average device chargers are-

    • Portable solar chargers

    • Wind up chargers

Smart sockets/plugs

  • Similar to smart power strips

  • Can operate on a timer 

  • Some can even sense motion to optimize lamp usage

  • Remote controlled

Smart Blinds

  • Remote controlled blinds make it easier to utilize natural sunlight

  • Can operate on a timer

  • Adds insulation value to your windows

For more devices, check out Essential Smart Home Devices to Save Money on Your Power Bill. 

Optimize Your Home to Save Power

Use the Right Type of Lights

The common inefficient household light bulb, the incandescent light bulb, is a thing of the past! Not only do CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) bulbs and LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs cut your electricity consumption, but they also last longer

  • Smart Bulbs - According to smarterhomeguide.com, "LED bulbs save energy when compared to fluorescent and incandescent light bulbs.  In fact, they (LED bulbs) use about 75% less than incandescent bulbs."

  • Dimmers - According to schaferelectric.com, "Dimmers use a ‘Triac Switch’ to rapidly turn a light circuit on and off to reduce the energy flowing to a light bulb. This switch will cut the energy running to the fixture up to 120 times in one second. This will be perceived as a constant flow of light to the human eye, but it is in fact a very fast flickering."

Make Sure Your Home is Built to Conserve Electricity

Already done everything you’ve read so far and still stuck with a high light bill? Maybe your home is in need of some small repairs that will stop overcompensation of your appliances. Sealing attics, doors, windows, and efficient siding & insulation are key! Take a look at the “Air Leak” section of this article, Energy-Efficient Home Improvements.

Don’t Let Your Pool Drain Electricity

Pools are a great addition to a home but are a killer for your energy bill. Pools can add anywhere from $75 to $300 to a home’s monthly electricity bill. If you already have a pool or are planning to build one, make sure you make it as energy efficient as possible. Thank us later and check out some tips for savings on pool costs here: Don't Let Your Pool Ruin Your Electricity Bill.

One Last Thing

Now that you're well versed in making your home as efficient as possible, let's make sure your electricity rate is cheap!

90% of Texans overpay for electricity currently. Customers shouldn’t have to do hours of homework and learn to speak like a lawyer just to find an electricity plan that fits their needs. They need an ally—someone on their side to make sure they’re getting a fair deal. And when they’re getting a bad deal, they need someone to make it easy to get out of it.

That’s where we come in. Energy Ogre ensures our customers are always in the best available plan for their home and make the process easy by managing it for them. Why scramble when your contract is up and waste time guessing if you made the right choice when Energy Ogre can do it for you—just for $10 per month? Give Energy Ogre a shot at managing your home’s electricity and we promise you won’t regret it!

Ready to take electricity plan shopping off of your plate? Press the button below!

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