EST. 2013
Simple Tips to Immediately Lower Summer Electricity Bills
Published on Feb 10, 2022
These Tips Can Help You Start Saving Immediately
Summer heat in Texas can be brutal, but your electricity bill doesn't have to make you sweat! Energy efficiency is necessary for your home so you can enjoy running your air conditioning unit without paying ridiculously high electricity bills. Use these simple tips to lower your electricity bill. Save a nice chunk o' change on your electric bill with minimal effort.
Set AC System on a Schedule
Your electricity bill will take a heavy hit if you aren't using your AC correctly. Keeping your thermostat at a constant temperature may seem like a great idea, but raising and lowering the temperatures can actually save you a ton of money. If you aren't home during the day, turn it up. If you sleep better when it's cooler, turn it down. Adjusting the temperature to fit your schedule will ensure you're getting the most out of your unit, enjoying the cool air when you need it most, and will ultimately lower your electricity bill.
Important side note: check what your current electricity rate is! With summer causing your AC unit to consume more electricity, you don't want to pay extra just because you're not in a competitive plan. To compare what you're paying now to what's available in the market, grab a recent power bill and run Energy Ogre's free savings calculator. It takes less than 30 seconds!
Become a Fan of Fans
Although fans don't cool the air around them, they do circulate air. This breeze can make a room feel cooler. When fans are running, turn your thermostat up. Not only are they already using energy by being plugged in, but you also won't need the AC unit to run as cool with fans blowing. Place fans on opposite sides of a room to create a tunnel effect that will distribute the air better.
Change AC Filters
When your air filters are clogged, your air conditioner must use more energy to push cool air through into your home. Changing your filters regularly will help your unit run more efficiently, giving you more cool air while lowering the cost of your electricity bill. Switch out your filters monthly to avoid clogging.
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Power Strips
Check your small appliances. If they have transformers on them (that's the little black cube at the end of the cord), you'll want to avoid plugging those into your wall sockets. Even when you turn your devices and appliances off, the electricity may still be on if it's plugged into the wall. This uses unnecessary energy, causing your electricity bill to rise. Unplug them when they aren't in use, or grab a power strip for all of them. When you're ready to shut them down, turn off the power strip.
Replace Appliances
If you've owned your major appliance or air conditioner for more than 10 years, it's time to replace them. The older they get, the more energy they require to run properly. Purchasing new appliances could help you cut the cost of running them by up to 50%.
Clean Your Fridge
The refrigerator is one of the biggest energy-sucking appliances in your home. Keep the vents and fan clean and maintained. When clean, the fridge consumes far less energy.
Laundry & Dishes
Running your washer, dryer, and dishwasher can put out extra heat in your house. This causes your AC to work harder. Consider running the dishwasher and washing machines during the off-peak hours, which are generally 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Wash your dishes by hand, or consider using paper plates and plastic utensils for the hotter months. You may also want to purchase rinsing agents (like Jet Dry) that will take the place of the heated dry mode on your dishwasher. Wash all laundry with cold water, if possible, and be sure the load is full if you are using hot water. When packing wet laundry into your dryer, make sure there is enough room for the hot air to circulate. Putting too many items in the dryer will likely take longer to get the items dry, causing more energy usage and expelling more heat into your home.
Monitor Sunlight
Keep your drapes closed during the day to keep the heat from coming into your home. Window film is a great alternative for letting the light in, but keeping the heat out and can reduce the heat coming in through your windows by up to 30%. If you have windows facing the sun during the day, potted trees or large shrubs can help block out the sun.
Change the Bulbs
Grab some energy-efficient light bulbs, and you'll notice a quick change in your electricity bill. They require fewer watts, and they end up lasting a lot longer than the classic light bulb. Plus, they are generally cooler and put off less heat as well.
For more helpful tips regarding efficient lighting, take a look at Bright Ideas: A Guide to Energy-Efficient Home Lighting and Eco-Friendly Practices.
Check for Gaps
If there are gaps around the doors and windows of your home, you're unintentionally letting warm air inside. Check your weatherstripping, and make sure it's not worn out and is properly in place. When you find gaps where air can get in, use caulk to seal it off.
Try using these tips to keep your home more energy-efficient and your electricity bill lower during the hotter months. You won't be sacrificing your comfort or wallet by changing up a few of your normal routines.
Honey, I Shrunk Your Bill
By now, you've got a few things to go work on...so I don't want to keep you much longer. But I can assure you implementing some of these tips into your home will immediately lessen your next electricity bill. It doesn't take much effort to make a big difference!
And while you're here...
Instead of struggling to find a decent electricity plan yourself, Energy Ogre does the research for you and enrolls members into competitive plans fitting their needs. We evaluate all available options & companies, finding the right solution for each member. We submit all the necessary documentation and make sure our members get enrolled successfully, too. Furthermore, we continue to monitor the market, and if a better option becomes available after factoring in your early termination fees, we let you know. Give Energy Ogre a shot, you can cancel at any time!
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