Your utility bills might seem high, but with just a few changes in your household habits you could substantially decrease them. One strategy could include installing an outlet timer to take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity rates.
No matter if you use wind, solar, or nuclear energy to produce electricity, our Earth’s resources are finite. Each bit of electricity saved reduces demand for natural gas, oil and coal used to power electricity generation – and thus ensures Earth reserves last longer (click here to learn more). That is why energy conservation should be prioritized: every bit conserved will help preserve resources more sustainably.
Conserving electricity can save money on utility bills directly. By decreasing electricity use in your home or business, less fuel needs to be purchased by utility providers resulting in reduced prices – an especially useful strategy during periods of peak demand when electricity costs tend to increase substantially.
Reduced energy consumption can help protect the environment and wildlife. Less consumption means reduced air pollution from machinery, cars and power plants as well as decreased number of extraction projects and spills. Less coal or oil-fueled power plants means less toxic waste ending up in rivers and lakes.
electricity conservation starts with taking small steps like turning off lights when leaving a room, driving vehicles with improved gas mileage, unplugging devices and chargers that are no longer in use, purchasing energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs, installing power strips that allow multiple items to be turned off with one button click, investing in energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs and investing in sustainable resources that ensure our planet continues to provide clean air and sustainable resources for generations.
1. Get a Smart Thermostat
Keeping your electric bill under control is a top priority for many homeowners and by making just a few small changes around your home you could save a significant amount of money by making energy-saving upgrades such as energy-efficient appliances or smart power strips, saving money is easier than ever!
Start by reviewing your current electricity bill and identifying the largest sources of consumption – like lighting, cooking and entertainment systems. Target these areas directly and take appropriate actions.
A newer innovation on the market; smart thermostats can help you significantly cut energy costs. By setting schedules and controlling them from anywhere with internet access, these investments can save hundreds of dollars each year.
Make sure your smart thermostat is Energy Star certified to guarantee energy savings and enter a low-power standby mode when not being used – both features that will further lower energy usage.
Before purchasing a smart thermostat, check with your utility company first – they may offer rebates or programs that encourage reduced energy use during peak demand times.
Installing a smart thermostat is an easy DIY project that will save money in the long run. To install one, remove your old thermostat’s back plate and connect its wiring with its replacement’s wiring, labeling each wire properly when making connections and connection points. For even greater energy savings you could invest in plug-in kilowatt meters such as Sense which provide detailed reports about home energy usage via mobile app.
2. Switch to Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Energy-efficient light bulbs are one of the cheapest ways to save on electricity costs. Lighting accounts for roughly 15% of home energy use, so switching to energy-efficient lights could have an immediate impact on lowering bills. LED and CFL bulbs use up to 90% less electricity than their predecessors and last an estimated 10 times longer, saving thousands over their lifespan.
Energy efficient bulbs cost slightly more upfront, but you will experience considerable savings on your power bill thanks to them. For optimal performance, look for bulbs that have received the Energy Star label.
Not only can energy-efficient bulbs reduce your energy costs, they’re also great for the environment. Incandescent bulbs emit heat and chemicals when burning; one 60-watt incandescent bulb alone is estimated to emit up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide over its lifespan; switching to energy efficient bulbs reduces this carbon footprint, helping prevent climate change.
One simple way to lower your electricity costs is to unplug electronics when not in use. According to this blog: www.bloomberg.com/power, devices left plugged in can consume as much as 10% of household electricity when left plugged in on standby. By plugging these power wasters into smart strips (which I’ll go into further below) you can easily turn them off when going to bed or leaving the house.
You can also set your smart strip to turn electronics off automatically at certain times so you won’t forget. By eliminating phantom loads, smart power strips can keep electricity costs lower while eliminating phantom loads to keep bills down
3. Invest in a Smart Power Strip
Power strips are an increasingly popular choice among electronics users looking to expand their electrical outlets, but they can be energy vampires as well. When they are used to keep devices plugged in even when not being used – a process known as Vampire Load which increases your electricity bill significantly.
Unplugging devices when they are no longer in use is one way to save electricity, but remembering to do it regularly may be difficult. Smart strip technology provides a solution by automatically shutting off devices.
Some smart power strips feature multiple outlets grouped together so you can turn them all on or off at once – this feature is particularly convenient for devices that only operate when your TV is turned on, such as DVD players, speakers and A/V receivers.
Smart strips can also save you money by keeping tabs on one outlet and cutting power when it detects that device has been switched off – an efficient way of conserving electricity for items like home theater systems, DVD players, laptops and cable boxes.
Smart strips offer another convenient solution by featuring a master outlet dedicated to the device most frequently used, and then when this device turns off, power will be cut to all other outlets to reduce standby power usage. Some models even feature built-in timers so you can program them to turn on or off at certain times of the day; this feature is especially handy if your area offers time-of-use energy plans where off-peak electricity usage costs less money than during peak times.
Also Read: How Can Heat Pump Installation Lower My Energy Bills?
4. Turn Off Electronics When You’re Not Home
Though you likely already know to switch off lights when not in use, there are other simple ways you can reduce electricity usage. One such approach is investing in a smart power strip; these switches automatically turn off appliances when not needed and can even be controlled remotely with your smartphone – helping your home save energy and keep bills down!
Estimates show that most homes contain numerous devices plugged into power supplies that remain powered on at all times – often known as “vampire devices” or “standby power,” this equipment consumes an estimated 10% of your energy bill and includes laptops, cell phone chargers, alarm clocks and entertainment equipment like TV units, set-top boxes and game consoles – even when not activated these gadgets continue consuming electricity through their power supplies and use up energy even when not needed.
Save yourself some money by simply unplugging electronics when not in use, especially those equipped with digital clocks. Some kitchen appliances, like coffee makers and microwaves are easy to unplug; others may require you to reset their clock before being used again.
Instead of unplugging all devices at once, consider switching to energy efficient products from Energy Star or investing in power strips with surge protectors that allow you to control what devices use power when they’re not being used; or look into smart plugs which allow you to remotely turn off appliances such as entertainment systems as well as lights and small electrical items without disrupting comfort – saving both money and comfort in the process! It just takes planning and investment but will pay dividends down the line!