Crafts & DIY
Electric Bills Are Skyrocketing. Expert DIYer Shares 15 Nifty Ways To Cut Your Electric Bill
Do you know of any other ways to easily save energy?
D.G. Sciortino
11.01.17

Our electric bills can skyrocket in the winter since we have the lights on longer since the days get shorter or if our heat is run on electric. But there are certain measures you can take to keep those costs down.

Here are 15 ways you can lower your electric costs:

1) Know Your Usage

Have an energy audit performed on your home so you can find out where you are using the most energy. This will help you to conserve energy where necessary.

Energy Smart Show
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Energy Smart Show

2) Pay As You Go

Some utility companies offer a plan that lets you play for estimated usage over a 12-month period. So, you may be using less electricity than you’re actually paying for. Review your bills and usage and decide if a pay as you go plan is better for you.

Eversource
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Eversource

3) Make Sure Your Systems Are Running Efficiently

Have your heating and cooling systems checked to make sure they are running efficiently. You’ll also want to make sure you perform maintenance on your systems regularly and do things like setting your electric water heater to the warm setting.

Pinterest
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Pinterest

4) Use Apps

Check to see if your utility company offers apps that you can use to track your energy usage and help you find energy savings.

Smappee Energy Monitor
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Smappee Energy Monitor

5) Use Motion Detectors

Motions sensors allow you to use light only when people are in the room and prevent the wasting of electricity when people forget to turn the lights off.

Lowe's
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Lowe's

6) Use Your Windows Wisely

Leave your windows and shades open during the day to bring in light and warm your home and close them at night to keep the heat in. Also, consider heavier draping in the winter to keep the warmth in or plastic wrap your windows to prevent warmth from escaping through cracks in older windows.

New York Sash
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New York Sash

7) Close Your Chimney Flue

Close your chimney flue when you are not using it and consider using a chimney balloon to keep cold air out and warm air in. You can also use insulated tempered glass on your fireplace doors to prevent air from going out of your room and up your chimney.

YouTube Screenshot
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YouTube Screenshot

8) Program Your Thermostat

Modern thermostats allow you to program them so that the temperature can be lowered when no one is home and higher for when you are home.

DeKalb County
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DeKalb County

9) Reverse Your Fan

You can use your fan to push hot air down into your home by using the reverse function on your ceiling fans. This can be activated on most fans by flipping a switch.

Angela's Back Links
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Angela's Back Links

10) Fill All Cracks

Make sure you seal all cracks where air can leak in and out of vents, ductwork, windows, fixtures, and doors with caulk, spray foam, or weatherstripping.

Energy.gov
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Energy.gov

11) Insulate

Since heat rises, you’ll want to make sure that your attic is properly insulated so that you can keep heat in. A properly insulated attic can reduce your energy bill by 10 to 15 percent.

Remodeling Calculator
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Remodeling Calculator

12) Bundle Up

Instead of cranking up the heat on the colder days you can just bundle up by getting cozy in a blanket and wearing a sweatshirt, thick socks and layering your clothing.

Pinterest
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Pinterest

13) Use Your Dryer Wisely

Your laundry dryers use up a lot of electricity and also give off heat. Try using it to help heat your home. You can fire them up when you need heat in your house like first thing in the morning or when you get home from work.

Pixabay
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Pixabay

14) Ask About Off-Peak Times

Some energy companies offer off-peak discounts for electricity usage. Find out if your company does and make sure you’re doing things like running your dishwasher or laundry during these times since doing those things uses up a lot of energy.

Cost Control Associates
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Cost Control Associates

15) Switch to Energy Efficient Bulbs and Appliances

Green Growing
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Green Growing

Switch out your light bulbs for more energy efficient once and when it’s time to buy new appliances make sure you pick ones that will use the least amount of energy.

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