5 Ways to Avoid High Energy Bills
After a long winter, a lot of Americans are loving the warm weather. But summer heat brings higher electricity bills thanks to increased regulation on the coal industry.
And over the next several years, energy prices are expected to increase by about 13 percent come 2020. Last year, the average summer electricity bills were about $395, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Here are a few simple tips to help shave down costs ahead of the summer season:
1. Take Control of Your Consumption
Making small changes to your living habits can bring significant savings to your cooling costs. Programming your thermostat to a higher temperature when not at home can help reduce your bills along with keeping shades down to let in less sun heat. Another option is turning to gadgets like the Nest thermostat to manage temperatures in the home. Nest is a
“Sealing your home will help you see a drastic reduction on your electric bills.”
smart thermostat that allows users to zone their homes and control temperatures via their phones. Nest also learns what temperature owners prefer.
“If you already have a programmable thermostat, you don’t necessarily need to update to a Nest,” says Julia Scott, “But turning down your thermostat in small increments can help you to save on your electricity bills.”
Nest retails for about $250, and the company’s website claims it can cut down electricity bills by about 20 percent.
2. Buy Energy-Smart Appliances to Lower Utility Bills
If you are in the market for a new air conditioner or refrigerator, consider buying an energy-smart model. They use less power and may be tax credit eligible. Check out Energystar.gov for more information on energy-efficient appliances and possible tax breaks.
“It’s a no-brainer,” Scott says. “Also, consider dusting the bottom of your refrigerator coils to help them run more efficiently. If it’s covered in dust, it has to work harder to release that heat.”
3. Clean Out Old Air Conditioner Filters and Replace Them
Experts recommend cleaning out air conditioner filters once a month, either on your own or hire a professional. “If they are covered in fuzz and dust, they can’t cool the air as much,” Scott says.
4: Look for Leaks and Cracks in the Wall
Make sure your house is properly sealed in order to keep the cool air that you are paying for in. You can do this yourself by walking through your home and finding cracks and leaks in windows and baseboards, or you can pay a professional to come in and identify any leaks. Fill any holes with rubber or caulk, available at your hardware store, Scott recommends.
“Do anything you can to fill these leaks and cracks. There’s a huge debate out there [on the topic of green homes] of whether you should install solar panels, or just make your home an airtight box. Sealing your home will help you see a drastic reduction in your electric bills.”
5. This is the Most Simple and Useful: Use Power Strips
All of the gadgets you leave plugged in during the day called the “phantom load,” are increasing your utility bills, Scott says. She suggests using a power strip with about five to six different plugs and connecting gadgets in one strip. This way, you can either turn the entire strip off when you leave the house for the day or find a “smart” model that only turns on when you want it to.
