How to Decrease My Electricity Costs in 2021

13 Jan How to Decrease My Electricity Costs in 2021

Hello, 2021! We don’t know about you, but we are ready for a new year! This year, we encourage home and business owners to be proactive in saving money by decreasing their electricity costs. You may be wondering, “but what are the best ways to decrease my electricity costs?” Here are our top recommendations!

1. Take an Energy Audit

Did you know that you can get an energy audit? Local utility companies often offer this service for free or for a low fee. By getting an energy audit, you can determine which areas are sucking the most money and how you can decrease your electricity costs.

2. Switch to LED Light Bulbs

We know that LED light bulbs are expensive, but they are worth it as a long-term investment. Just check out this cost-saving comparison by Energy Star. Investing in LEDs is worth it!

3. Unplug Energy Vampires

What is an energy vampire? Energy vampires (also known as phantom drains) are electronics pulling electricity when they aren’t in use, such as coffee pots, media systems, or computers. If you are not using it, unplugging it will save on electricity.

What if it is in a hard to reach place or you have many plugs for a single system? Place the plugs on a power strip so that you can easily reach to turn them all off at once!

4. Insulate Your Home Properly

You would be surprised at how much money wastes away when a home is improperly insulated. You want to ensure that you:

• Check and replace seals on windows, doors, and appliances
• Adequately cover pipes and the water heater
• Use drapes or blinds to cover windows

5. Energy Efficient Appliances

We are not suggesting that you go out and buy all new appliances. However, we are suggesting that as your old appliances break, you replace them with new, energy-efficient appliances. If you haven’t already, you may also want to install motion-activated lights, a programmable thermostat, insulated electrical outlets, and even a storm door.

In addition, you want to ensure that your current appliances are running smoothly. Regular maintenance dramatically helps to decrease your electricity costs. We would suggest regularly cleaning refrigerator coils, HVAC filters, dryer lint traps, and more.

6. Use Less Electricity

It may sound like a simple idea, but using less electricity is a habit that takes time to form and often take conscious effort. Here are a few areas where you can use less electricity:

• turn off the lights when you leave the room
• take shorter showers
• use blankets instead of turning up the heat
• use natural light for heat
• run appliances during off-peak electrical hours
• only run appliances (washer, dryer, etc.) when they are full

7. Regular Electrical Inspections

You would be surprised at how much regular electrical inspections can help you save. Our seasoned professionals will tell you where your home needs updating to keep it safe and running efficiently. Give us a call today for a quote!