Energy-saving tips are more important than ever thanks in part to rising costs of everyday items. If you’re hoping to reduce costs and your environmental footprint, you probably want to lower your energy bills as much as you can.
Fortunately, saving money on your energy bill, which in turn will help the planet at the same time, can be easy.
Here are some energy-saving tips and tricks for your appliances that can make a difference in your power usage:
1. Replace Your Light Bulbs With Energy-Efficient Options
Incandescent light bulbs not only need replacing more often than energy-saving bulbs, but they also use more electricity.
To save money on your bill, replace your traditional light bulbs with:
- Halogen incandescent bulbs
- Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)
- Light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs)
Granted, energy-saving light bulbs do cost more than traditional bulbs. However, according to the U.S. Department of Energy LED light bulbs:
- Can save the average household around $225 a year
- Use up to 90% less energy than traditional light bulbs
- Last 25 times longer than incandescent light bulbs
This means you’ll have to buy them less often while also saving money on your electric bill.
When shopping for energy-saving light bulbs, look for the Energy Star label on the box which indicates the bulb is a certified low-energy solution.
2. Install a Smart Thermostat To Conserve Energy
A smart thermostat will automatically adjust when you’re asleep or away from home in order to save energy. A smart thermostat will also learn your patterns and adjust temperatures automatically, without you having to manually change it.
According to Energy Star, a smart thermostat can save you up to 8% on your heating and cooling bills, an energy-saving benefit could come out to around $50 a year.
Granted, this amount will vary depending on:
- How many people and pets live in your home
- The age of your heater and air conditioner
- Personal preference for cooling and heating temperatures
- The weather where you live
In addition to automatically adjusting the HVAC, a smart thermostat can:
- Indicate on the screen when it’s time to replace the air filter
- Alert you to problems with the HVAC system
3. Wash Your Laundry in Cold Water
Heating up water in your washing machine uses a whopping 90% of the energy needed for the cycle.
To become more focused on energy-saving, which in turn will save you money on your power bill, consider washing your laundry in cold water as often as you can.
As for how much washing in cold water will save, consider the following:
- Hot/warm cycles cost an average of 72 cents per load, or $282 a year
- Warm/warm cycles cost an average of 56 cents per load, or $220 per year
- Cold/cold cycles cost just 5 cents per load, or $16 a year
Using these figures, if you switch from a hot/warm water cycle to a cold/cold option, you’ll save an average of $250 a year. This assumes you’re doing one load a day, so your savings could be more or less, depending on how often you use your washer.
4. Banish Phantom & Vampire Energy From Your Home With Smart Power Strips
Did you know that computers, televisions, and appliances can use energy even when the power is off?
Energy experts refer to this phenomenon as phantom energy, standby energy, or vampire energy, and it can lead to energy waste.
As the U.S. Department of Energy notes, up to 10% of energy usage in homes is from phantom energy. This can add up to $100 a year in wasted energy and money.
To prevent phantom and vampire energy from happening in your home, and enjoy some nice energy saving in the process, purchase smart power strips.
Also known as advanced power strips, they can:
- Shut off power to electronics when they’re not in use
- Turn off electronics and appliances at certain times of the day according to a set program
- Operate via a remote switch
5. Reduce Drying Time With Dryer Balls
If you typically use dryer sheets to help your clothes stay wrinkle-free in the dryer, you may want to switch to dryer balls from a company like Laundry Sauce.
Dryer balls, typically made from compressed wool, can not only prevent your laundry from clumping and wrinkling in the dryer, but they can also reduce the amount of time needed to dry your clothes.
In some cases, dryer balls can cut the drying time in half, which can lead to some serious energy saving on your bill.
Additionally, dryer balls:
- Are reusable hundreds if not thousands of times
- Are biodegradable and safe for compost bins
- Save you money compared to single-use dryer sheets
Energy-Saving Tips Benefit the Planet & Your Wallet
As you can see, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on new energy-efficient appliances to save energy and lower your electric bill. Thanks to easy and budget-friendly energy-saving tips, you’ll save money as well as help the planet.
