7 Simple Steps to Lower Your Utility Bills

7 Simple Steps to Lower Your Utility Bills

As we all have seen utility bills have increased greatly this summer. Below you will find simple steps on how to cut yours down.

According to the National Assistance Directors Association, the average US family spent around $117 a month on their electric bill in 2020, that equals more that $1,400 a year. Since then, water bills and gas and energy prices have increased by 30%.

These small changes will help you start saving, electricity, gas, water, and money!

1.      Electrical Audit- This is a free service that electrical most electric companies offer. They go room-by-room and check to see where you may be wasting money. If you follow their recommendations, it can help reduce your bill. If your local electrical company does not provide this service you can perform your own by using the instruction provided by the US Department of Energy.  

 2.      Adjust Your Thermostat- According to the Department of Energy, you can same as much as 10% on your heating and cooling costs by adjusting your thermostat for 8 hours a day by 7-10 degrees. The easiest way to do this is to use a programmable or smart thermostat and preset it to adjust either during the day when you are not home or when you are sleeping.

 3.      Turn Down Your Water Heater- This tip can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Most water heaters are set to 140 degrees by the manufacturer; however, many households only need it set at a maximum of 120 degrees. This tip is easy to do yourself. The temperature dial is likely near the bottom of the tank on the control valve. You can also refer to the owner’s manual for instructions.

 4.      Turn Off or Unplug- Leaving things on or plugged in is driving up your electric bill for no reason. Turn off lights when you are not in the room or when it is bright enough outside to just use natural light. On average a 40-watt light bulb cost 4 cents per hour to use (the higher the wattage the higher the cost). By keeping unused items plugged in you are paying for phantom energy. This can cost an average of $100 per year, so don’t forget to unplug things like your chargers, electric can opener, stand mixer, and any other items that you may note use often but stay plugged in.

 5.      Use the Dishwasher- It might sound contradictory, but today the amount of water that a dishwasher can use is regulated by the US Department of Energy, so any dishwasher manufactured after 2013 can only use 5 gallons of water. Most believe that hand washing dishes saves you on your water bill, but in fact it is estimated that it takes anywhere from 9-27 gallons of water to hand wash a full load of dishes.

6.      Take Advantage of Off-peak Rate- Some may not know but there are tends in electricity where the cost to use is higher depending on the time of day or year. You can save money by running large appliances early in the morning or in the middle of the night, like your dishwasher or washing machine. May electrical companies have plans or tools that will help you know when peak or off-peak time is. Energy United has two different programs that can help you save.

 7.      Change Your Air Filters- The Department of Energy has found that if you replace your air filters on schedule, you can reduce you air conditioners energy usage by a range of 5-15%. The easiest way to remember to do this is setting a reminder in your phone or on your calendar based on the recommendation on the air filter that you purchased.

This list is just a few easy ways to help save you money on your current bills. The Department of Energy has a whole section dedicated to providing even more tips on there website. They even have ways to save on lawn care and still have green grass!

We hope that this list helps you take some easy steps to help save you some moola!