Gah! Why is electricity so expensive!
You probably think this every time you get your power bill. The high cost of electricity is frustrating, but you can reduce your power bill by making a few conscious decisions about your power usage. Reduce your power usage, reduce your bill.
Of course, most of us don’t want to make major lifestyle changes like showering in cold water or turning all the lights off at 8 pm. Here are some tips to reduce your power bill that don’t have a drastic effect on your daily life.
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Change Up Your Laundry Routine
It isn’t necessary to wash most clothing in hot water. In fact, hot water contributes to colour leakage and otherwise shortening the lifespan of your clothing.
Start using cold water and you’ll save by not using energy to heat all that water.
Your dryer uses a lot of energy to dry your clothes. Try hanging them out instead of using the dryer once a week. It takes a little bit more effort, but you can save about $79 a year with this one little trick.
Plus, your clothes will smell like fresh air and sunshine!
Use Energy-Intensive Appliances During Off-Peak Hours
Another easy way to save is to run the laundry machine and other energy-intensive appliances during off-peak hours. The price of electricity fluctuates throughout the day. These fluctuations vary by provider so check your energy contract to find the cheapest part of the day.
Then, simply wait to run the dishwasher (always full of course) and wash clothes during those times.
You can also put an electric hot water tank on a timer so it only turns on when electricity is less expensive.
Wondering how to get this set up? A licensed electrician can easily set your hot water tank to run on a timer for an easy way to save money.
Close Off Rooms You Don’t Use
If you have any rooms in your home that you don’t use regularly, there is little point in heating or cooling them. Close the doors and heat registers in those rooms so you aren’t paying to heat empty, unused spaces.
Solar Energy
There are a couple of ways you can take advantage of solar energy. The first is to simply open the drapes and let the sun shine in your windows. During the winter you can get a little extra warmth this way. Just be sure to close the drapes again at night or the heat will all leak out the window again once the sun goes down.
The second way is expensive upfront but will provide you with free energy for years to come. Install a solar panel system in your home. Rebates and discounts help bring the price down and with the savings you’ll enjoy, the system eventually pays for itself.
Ready for Some Electric Savings?
Don’t let the high cost of electricity get you down. Follow these tips to reduce your energy usage and slash your electric bill today!
