Cutting Utility Bills: A Stepwise Plan
Trimming your utility costs offers the fastest path to immediate monthly savings. Energy efficiency guidance via ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) provides incredible insights into household power consumption. To attack your electric bill, you must first understand a few basic terms. You are billed by the kWh, which stands for kilowatt-hour—a measure of electrical energy equivalent to a power consumption of 1,000 watts for one hour. You also need to know a device’s Wattage, which is the measure of electrical power that specific device requires to operate. Finally, look at your monthly statement to find your unit rate, which is the exact price you pay your utility company for each unit of energy consumed.
You can lower your electric bill significantly by swapping out old incandescent bulbs for modern LED equivalents. Old bulbs waste most of their energy as heat, whereas LEDs convert almost all their energy into light. You should also hunt down standby power, which is the electricity drawn by appliances when they are plugged in but turned off. Televisions, microwaves, and computer chargers constantly sip power. Using smart power strips allows you to cut the physical power connection to these devices with a single switch. For your laundry routine, washing clothes in cold water rather than hot saves the tremendous amount of energy otherwise required to heat the drum.
Your natural gas and water bills offer similar opportunities for reduction. Head down to your basement and check your gas water heater. Most manufacturers set the default temperature to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which poses a scalding risk and burns unnecessary gas. Lowering the set point to 120 degrees Fahrenheit provides plenty of hot water for bathing and cleaning while dramatically cutting your standby heat loss. For water usage, pay attention to the flow rates of your showerheads and faucets. Swapping an old showerhead for a modern low-flow model reduces the gallons of heated water pouring down the drain.
You should constantly look for a local rebate, which is a partial refund given by a utility company or government agency after you purchase a qualifying energy-saving appliance. Check your provider’s website before buying a new refrigerator or smart thermostat. Furthermore, consider asking your utility provider about budget billing. This program averages your historical yearly usage into twelve equal payments, protecting you from massive summer cooling or winter heating spikes. It makes your monthly budgeting highly predictable.
