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All of us would like to spend less on bills and, unfortunately, for some people being able to save some money on electricity bill means they can barely make the ends meet.
Still, even though you may not be so cash-strapped, there’s absolutely no reason you should pay more than necessary, when you can use the money saved and spend it on something else.
Also, it’s important to bear in mind that the less natural resources are used, the better protected and preserved our planet will be. So, take a look at these tips on how to save energy and money on your electricity bill, which is probably the highest one you have to pay each month.
Air-conditioning and heating
The biggest consumer of electricity is usually the air-conditioning and heating system. It’s difficult to constantly have the right temperature inside your home and very often we either forget to adjust the thermostat (if we have one in the first place) or are away from home and, thus, unable to do so.
If you are living in an area where summers tend to get very hot, such as Australia, you should consider installing a ceiling fan, which uses less energy but provides good results.
Whatever you decide to do about this system, make sure you hire a professional, so that you are sure all safety requirements have been met.
You don’t want to risk some big damage, fire or even a loss of lives because you wanted to save a few dollars.
Solar energy
We do need energy in our lives, but it doesn’t have to come only through the local power distribution network. If you invest in solar panels, you’ll have to wait for some time until they pay off, but you’ll definitely be using plenty of energy for free afterwards.
It’s estimated that a solar panel system saves thousands of dollars over the course of its lifetime, which makes this investment worthwhile.
If there’s a solar leasing option, you can even avoid installing such a system in your house, but still pay less.
We are looking at about $50 each month that would otherwise go to your old power distribution company. With solar technology constantly developing, you can now buy high-quality products for much less than before and it’s easy to calculate how long you’ll have to wait before the necessary initial investment pays off.
Go LED
Everybody knows that traditional incandescent light bulbs waste much more energy since they produce so much heat.
However, if you replace them with modern LED bulbs, you’ll be spending less and you can rightfully expect them to last much longer than the traditional models. With the prices of modern LED light bulbs going down, it’s clear that they are the future.
One more advantage is that LED bulbs don’t contain mercury, which means that switching from incandescent light bulbs reduces mercury pollution from coal power plants.
Upgrade your appliances
If you’ve recently bought an appliance, chances are it’s energy-efficient, because manufacturers nowadays pay a lot of attention to that aspect.
On the other hand, if it’s been a while since you last bought an appliance, you might want to consider replacing it, especially if it’s been showing signs of not working properly anymore.
Apart from having a new product, which should also mean a more reliable one, you’ll also notice that it consumes less energy than your last one.
A rule of the thumb is that you should go for the best model you can afford, since your savings in the long run will be the highest.
Of course, you need to worry about the design and size of your new appliances, but with so many products available, it’s safe to assume you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Insulation is the key
A lot of energy is wasted if the home is not properly insulated and we’re not talking only about the walls.
Start from the top and revisit your roof, since it’s known to be most poorly insulated. Then shift your attention to doors and windows, since they too can cause insulation problems.
A large amount of heating and cooling escapes a home if doors and windows don’t provide enough protection. Finally, consider adding insulation to hot water lines and the water heater, since that would reduce the overall power consumption.
If you really want to stop wasting energy unnecessarily and reduce your bills, these are the steps you should take. Needless to say, you have to switch off the appliances and lights when you don’t use them, but that’s common sense.
It’s through a frugal approach and some changes that you can significantly reduce your bills, which means you’ll be able to afford something else that you could only dream about until now.
