Energy bills can be crippling to some households. It is something that we just cannot avoid paying – after all, we need gas and electricity to be able to carry out our normal day-to-day lives. But if we don’t know how to reduce energy bills,, they can go through the roof and become a financial burden we can barely cope with.
Ten Easy Ways to Reduce Energy Bills
While we cannot magically cut your energy bills in half, we can give you some advice on how to reduce them without too much hassle. Some of these things are free, some will involve a financial outlay – but all will save you money in the longer term.
1 – Invest in quality insulation
So much of our energy is lost through the walls and roofs of our homes and commercial buildings, and it is literally wasted hot air. Not only does it add to your bills, but in terms of environmental factors, it is pretty bad too. By investing in some quality insulation, perhaps using spray foam contractors to make it a relatively simple job, you can keep warm air in your house.
2 – Keep your fridge freezer full
It sounds ridiculous, we know, but keeping your fridge freezer as full as possible will reduce your energy consumption. The food acts as an insulator and reduces the amount of time that your fridge freezer needs to work to stay cool.
3 – Dry your laundry outside
Set up a clothesline in your backyard and let Mother Nature take care of the drying. If this isn’t an option, try hanging clothes on a drying rack or shower rod. Sure, it will take a little longer than using the dryer, but it’s cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and helps your clothes to last longer too.
4 – Turn things off when you are not using them
So much energy – possibly as much as three-quarters of energy consumed in a household – is used up by appliances and electrical items plugged into the mains but are not being used. This includes cell phone chargers, televisions, music systems, microwaves, and many other appliances that keep the time. When they are not in use, get into the habit of turning them off.
5 – Keep on top of HVAC maintenance
An inefficient and poorly maintained HVAC system is going to cost you more money than one that is working at its very best. Get an engineer out once a year to give it a once over and clean it out. This also means you have fresher, cleaner air circulating through your house. It is also vital to change your HVAC filter regularly – aim to do so once a month if possible to ensure they are clean and clear.
6 – Switch to LED lighting where possible
LED lighting can use up to 90 percent less energy than standard light bulbs, so where possible, use them. They do cost more initially, but they will last a lot longer and save you a small fortune on your energy bills – and are much better for the environment. As and when your bulbs begin to blow out through your home, replace them one by one to spread the initial cost out.
7 – Lower the temperature on your washing machine
Modern washing machines and laundry detergents are so good that you rarely need to use hot wash cycles to get clothes and other laundry items clean. Try turning your washing machine temperature down to 40 degrees or even 30 degrees for all but the most stubborn of stained garments – you will save a tonne of cash, and you will find your clothes last much longer too.
8 – Only run your washing machine and dishwasher on full loads
Your washing machine and dishwasher use a lot of water and energy to heat that water. Try to minimize the number of uses by only running it when it is full.
9 – Have showers instead of baths – and install low flow showerheads
While a deep, hot bath can be the ultimate in relaxation, it uses a lot of energy to heat up. A shower reduces the amount of water and, therefore, the energy used. As well as that, install a low-flow showerhead. It reduces the amount of water flowing, thus reducing the energy.
10 – Install weatherstripping
Gaps around window frames and door frames are prime locations for heat to escape. Check around to see if you can feel any draughty gaps and if there are, fit some weatherstripping to fill the gaps and keep the heat in where it belongs. That small piece of material is critical to help reduce energy bills.