A hefty electricity bill can ruin your month, especially since we live in a world where even eggs are unaffordable. If you’re looking for a way to cut down your bill, it’s worth finding out which things use the most electricity in your home.
You can grab a Kill-A-Watt Meter from Amazon (they’re also sometimes available at public libraries for free) and check for specific energy drains in your home. You can also look at these five common sources of electricity seepage.
HVAC
It’s a tough pill to swallow, but the very essence of comfort in your own home is probably the most expensive part. Consider space heaters in the winter or cooling fans in the summer.
I feel like I should be arrested for suggesting these things, because no energy bill in the summer can keep me from blasting my face with precious AC. The joke is fully on me, because this stuff accounts for about half of your energy usage.
Major Appliances
If you’re looking to scrape every single penny out of your electricity bill, consider unplugging your stove whenever it’s not in use. It is, sadly, a huge part of what’s gobbling up your energy. More realistically, consider trying things like avoiding preheating when necessary and keeping your fridge door closed.
Lights
This is an obvious one, if you’re like me, you have a nasty habit of leaving lights on in every room. Turning off lights when you leave a room is effortless, and makes a huge difference. I’m going to write that on the chalkboard 100 times.
Entertainment Electronics
This is another easy one: Just turn off the TV when you’re done. Turn off your computer at night. Power down video games and turn off DVD/Bluetooth players, if anybody still owns any of those ancient relics. These small percentages all add up.
Water Heating
This is a hefty charge, and in many cases it can be avoided or shortened. Showers generally use less hot water than baths, and you can almost always get away with washing your clothes on a cold cycle.
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More Money-Saving Home Improvement Tips
- 12 Home Upgrades That Are a Total Waste of Money — This story pulls the plug on upgrades like luxury bathroom features, exotic flooring and built-in electronics that look impressive — but don’t usually pay off for your wallet.
- 6 Places in Your Home Where You Lose the Most Heat — Find out where heat leaks happen most often — and how fixing those weak spots can lower your electricity usage fast.
- 11 Ways You’re Wasting Energy at Home (and How To Stop!) — From overusing hot water to ignoring drafts, this guide reveals habits that quietly inflate your energy bill (and tips to dial them back).
