If you've noticed your electricity bills are higher than usual, you're not alone. The average American household is spending $200 per month on energy (gas + electric). That's a lot of money, especially when it's not clear how much of that goes to keeping the lights on and how much goes toward climate change. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to reduce your energy consumption—and save some cash in the process!
Energy Bills are at a 10-Year High.
Energy bills are at a 10-year high. In the last year, the cost of electricity has increased by almost 15%. The average household’s energy bill increased by $30 per month in the last year alone. This is expected to continue; according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the price of electricity per household will increase by about $400 per year for the next ten years.
We can't control what our utilities charge us (but we can ask them to reduce our rates). While utility companies aren't required to provide their customers with low-cost options like solar power, they often do offer these kinds of deals when asked politely—and most states have laws that require utility companies to offer an “affordable rate plan” if someone asks for it!
Here's what you can do now do save on your bills
In the coming weeks and months, you may see an uptick in your energy bills. That's because of a combination of factors that may be out of our control — including a hot summer, rising gasoline prices, global politics, and increasing fuel costs.
So what can you do? The answer is simple: use less energy! It sounds obvious, but if everyone did this it would save the country millions of dollars per year. Here are some easy ways to implement this strategy:
Use efficient appliances
Appliances like washing machines, dryers and air conditioners all cost more money if they're not running efficiently (and they'll probably last longer too). Make sure all your home appliances are Energy Star certified by looking at their labels; these appliances have been tested and proven to be energy efficient so they use less electricity than standard models without sacrificing performance or functionality. You might even find that some older models perform better under certain conditions than newer ones that use more power overall
Similarly, consider switching out for energy-efficient LED light bulbs. Go around your home and check the ceiling bulbs, floor lamps, table lamps, and even your garage to replacement old incandescent or CFL light bulbs to efficient LED ones.
LED light bulbs are 75% more efficient than traditional ones. To go above and beyond, you may also want to buy smart bulbs that can be controlled and programmed to your smartphone.
This may be counterintuitive but use a dishwasher over handwashing
Most modern dishwashers are actually very water efficient and are designed to minimize water consumption, while still being an effective solution. Hand washing your dishes might actually lead to more water waste and hot water usage because most people just leave the sink on and running. All that excess hot water usage can lead to higher energy bills!
If you still prefer to hand wash and air-dry, we recommend using a small bucket in your sink so that you aren't keeping the water running and draining the entire time you're washing. Being mindful of how long the faucet is on can go a long way!
Turn off the lights. Yes, it's that simple!
Leaving your room to go downstairs? Leaving the house for "just a minute"? Most families drain a lot of energy by forgetting to turn off the lights. Pair that with less energy-efficient light bulbs, that can add up to a lot of wasted energy per month!
If you're at home during the daytime, make sure to open your curtains and let in as much natural light as possible. Use the free daylight to your advantage. At night, you may consider using an energy-efficient floor lamp or a dimmer so that you turn on only a subsection of your lights.
Turning off lights is a great habit because every minute counts!
Install solar garden lights to keep your backyard lit without hefty electricity bills.
There are many ways to light up your backyard. You can invest in a lighting system, or you can try solar garden lights. Installing solar garden lights is easy and they’re cost-effective.
Solar lights are a great way to keep things like all night, without incurring any additional energy costs. Install lights on your property so that when people come over for dinner parties or other events at night time no one needs to turn on any lights inside unless absolutely necessary which saves us all money!
These lights are designed to automatically come on at night and shut off with the dawn. This can be very convenient when you have an outdoor party or get together because they won’t need any additional lighting-use energy efficient light bulbs. While some people may argue that they don't like the way LEDs look compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, for the environment's sake it's worth it! These new kinds of bulbs last longer and use less power than standard ones so you'll have to change them out less often which saves money on your electric bill.
Our Solar lights can add even more flare than traditional bulbs. Add a Solar Tiki Torch to get some dancing flames at night, or install color-changing Pathway Lights around your perimeter for a rainbow light show!
Solar lights are easy to install and there are no tools required. Solar panels require very little maintenance and don’t need to be cleaned too often since the dirt will eventually fall off them once it rains or snows.
Solar garden lights are easy to install and maintain, which makes them a popular choice for many homeowners. They can also be used to light up pathways or walkways, so if you’re looking for an easy way to brighten up your backyard space without having to worry about electricity bills, solar garden lights might be the best option for you.
Always Focus on the Things You Can Control
We hope that you can use these tips to save money on your electricity bill! While the world is changing around us - from climate to geo-politics - there are still things lots of things we can do in our control. We still recommend you consider investing in renewable energy and start using solar-powered devices so that you can reduce greenhouse emissions as well as spending!