You’re absolutely not alone if you’re looking to reduce your energy bills. We’ve all fallen prey to the unanticipated and monstrously hefty energy bill. It’s the worst kind of financial blindside. One moment you think that you’ve budgeted like an absolute champion, and then the next moment, you’re getting an electric bill that sends your stressed heart leaping outside of your chest. The last thing you want to do is have to pay that electric bill late and jeopardize your credit score.
Now more than ever, with so many of us doing our best to muddle through a historically volatile job market due to the Coronavirus, it’s of the utmost importance that we find ways to cut costs where we can. Getting a firm grasp on your electric bill is a surefire way to set yourself up for peace of mind and more financial stability. So, let’s take a look at a handful of ways to reduce your energy bills.
1. Inspect seals on doors, windows, and appliances.
To not thoroughly inspect the various seals around your home is to let that silent, terribly detrimental energy use killer run amok. If you unknowingly have bad seals around your home, you’ll end up paying way more unnecessary money in the long run because it’ll take that much more energy to keep your house warm or cold. Plus, when it comes to a household appliance like a fridge, you’ll also run the risk of having your food go bad far more quickly than is normal. It’s all about using less energy. Your energy bill will look healthier than ever before, and your bank account will thank you.
2. Give your thermostat a little love tap.
We mean by giving your thermostat a little love tap for you to dial that bad boy back by 10 to 15 degrees when you’re asleep or away from home. We understand that this can be tough on those long and cold winter nights, so you can always play around with the temperature so that you’re not completely freezing. Folks that do adopt the practice of reducing their thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees for 8 hours a day/night can see up to 10% reduction in energy costs. Now that’s what we’re talking about when it comes to an aesthetically pleasing electric bill.
3. Tinker with the temperature on your water heater.
Your typical household water heater will run right around 140 degrees. By lowering your water heater a mere 20 degrees, you can cut back on using so much energy in a short amount of time. In fact, you could end up reducing the water heating energy costs on your energy bill by as much as 10%. So, if you’re by chance skipping town for a few days, this could serve as the perfect opportunity to experiment with lowering your water heater’s temperature.
4. Wash your laundry with cold water.
Sometimes you’ve got to think creatively when implementing effective ways to reduce your energy bill. As a matter of fact, washing your laundry with cold water has been shown to reduce a homeowner’s energy bill by as much as $152 a year. So many of us are using hot water to wash our laundry purely out of habit when we could actually be shaving off substantial amounts of money on our electric bill by simply using cold water. Now that’s a great way for a homeowner to save some money on living costs easily.
We’ve touched on some of the best ways that you and any other homeowner out there can increase your energy efficiency while simultaneously cutting those energy bills down to a place that leaves you satisfied. Being a mindful homeowner who approaches your monthly energy usage with a well thought out strategy is a plain old great way to save money proactively. You don’t want to find yourself staring down the formidable face of a utility bill that exceeds your financial means. Those dang utility bills can really creep up on you and throw you into a tailspin. So, take these helpful tips with you and start-up with smart electric use today. This is one of those things that you will never live to regret.
And if you ultimately find yourself in a home with a minefield of problems contributing to poor energy use, you can always look into a new place. Another question to ask yourself at that point will be, “can you negotiate a home loan?” As long as your credit report is in good standing, your financials are on lock, and you match with a loan officer who can set you up with a reasonable monthly payment throughout the life of the loan, there’s no reason that a home loan couldn’t be the right route for you.
