Cutting your energy costs is a good way to save money, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have to live like a caveman with no electricity or running water. You can live a comfortable life with all of the modern conveniences, but you can save yourself a lot of money on your energy bills. It will be challenging to cut energy costs, but it’s definitely worth it! Here are some simple ways to reduce your utility bills easily:
Use Energy Saving Bulbs — No doubt your home has a lot of light fixtures, and every single one of them is costing you a lot more than it should be if you’re using regular light bulbs. Energy saving bulbs will use a fraction of the energy, but produce just as much light.
For example, an 18 watt energy saving bulb will produce as much light as a 60 watt regular bulb, but it will just use 18 watts. You can save yourself a lot of money by switching out all of the lights in your home. Not only will these energy saving bulbs use less energy, but they’ll last a lot longer.
As an extra tip to help lower your utility expenses, consider using a flow meter to regulate your water consumption.
Research Energy Companies – Are you paying a lot for your electricity, more than you should? Many people have no idea what other options of electric companies are out there, but there are a number of electric companies in Texas that can provide clean, affordable energy. A lot of people have changed electric companies, and they used sites like http://www.texaselectricityproviders.com/direct-energy-texas/Texas/F/Fort-Worth/ to help them find electric companies offering the best rates.
Reduce Leftovers – Opening and closing your fridge uses a lot of energy, so it’s a good idea to reduce traffic in and out of the fridge. If there are no leftovers in the fridge, your kids and spouse won’t need to open and close the fridge to see what there is to eat. Keep snacks outside the fridge for them to munch on when they’re hungry, and cook exactly what you’re going to eat. It will help to reduce the number of times the fridge door is opened and closed every day.
Get Rid of Appliances – How many appliances do you have in your home that you never use? A microwave is a handy appliance, but it may not be necessary. The same goes for a toaster, a juicer, a third TV, and a second gaming console. If you have fewer appliances, you won’t use as much energy. Get rid of the appliances that you don’t need, and just keep the absolutely essential ones. You can hang your clothes to dry them, wash your dishes by hand, and toast your bread in a pan, and you’ll cut energy costs drastically!
Upgrade Your Electronics – Did you know that new TVs, fridges, and dryers use less energy than older models? The newer models are made according to eco-friendly standards, and they have higher Energy Star ratings than older appliances. This means that they’ll use a lot less energy, and they’ll let off a lot less heat and gas as well. It may be time to give your home appliances an upgrade, and you can buy the more eco-friendly models.
Turn Down the Heater or AC – Your HVAC costs are usually the highest during the windy Texas winter and the boiling Texas summer, but you can keep costs low by turning down the appliances. Use overhead and standing fans to keep the house breezy and cool in summer, and use small electric heaters to keep warm in winter. Lower the setting on the thermostat, and use these smaller appliances to stay cool or warm as the temperature dictates.
