How many times have you looked at your electric bill and nearly fainted? Well, if you’re like most people, it’s happened more often than you anticipate… but there’s nothing you can do about it, right? Sure, you can strip down to your undergarments in the summer and wear five pairs of sweat pants and sweatshirts in the winter all to use your thermostat less.
But all of that is ridiculous measures to take to reduce your home’s energy consumption… Surely, there’s a less painful way to do so.
Lucky for you, there is.
Reducing your home’s energy consumption doesn’t mean you have to be miserable while living at home, but it does mean that there will be some lifestyle adjustments you’ll need to make in order to reduce your home’s consumption.
This isn’t painful, either, unless you’re someone who’s become set in your ways and aren’t willing to change. But let’s be honest here… If you want to see changes on your electric bill, it’s going to require some changes at home.
So, if only for the time it takes to read this article, open your mind up to some ideas that could drastically lower your energy consumption at home, therefore lowering your monthly electric bill. Read on if you’re in the slightest bit interested in reducing how much energy you use at home.
Simple Ways to Reduce Your Energy Usage at Home
Take Advantage of the Natural Light
This particular lifestyle change is simple and easy and doesn’t cost you a dime. Sometimes it’s as though people forget about the use and benefits of having windows in their homes.
Not only are windows a natural source of light that reduces the need to turn on lights in your home but they’re also great sources of heat as well, reducing your need to turn on your thermostat.
Some people don’t take advantage of natural light in their homes for worrying about the safety of their home and not wanting people to see inside, and that’s perfectly understandable. If you’re uneasy about taking advantage of natural light for security purposes consider investing in blinds or sheer curtains, that way you’ll still be able to use the natural light and have a bit of privacy in your home as well.
Shop Around For Alternative Electricity Providers
Most people aren’t aware of just how much electricity they use in a day, let alone for an entire month. The US Energy Administration reported that in 2019, the average household used 10,649 kilowatt-hours of energy, and the worst part is that that the majority of the energy used came from fossil fuels, which does great harm to the environment.
That reason alone is why it’s so important to shop around for alternative electric suppliers.
There was a point in time where everyone had to use the electric provider that was zoned in their area, and that provider powered homes with electricity generated from non-renewable resources.
Today, residents in Connecticut can choose CT electric suppliers. The same goes for Texas as well… it all depends on where deregulated energy is available. But it would be in your best interest to see if this option is available in your area, that way, the energy you do use won’t be harmful to the environment.
Be More Mindful
To successfully conserve more energy in your home, it’s going to simply be a matter of being more mindful of how you use energy in your home.
Things like turning off the lights in rooms when you’re not in them, unplugging appliances when they’re not in use, and only washing clothes when you have a full load are all ways to be more mindful of your energy usage at home. In becoming more mindful, it will also reduce your monthly electric bills as well…
This is a habit to lower your monthly expenses that you can take into 2021 and beyond.
Switch to LED Light Bulbs
If you’re currently using standard light bulbs, consider switching to LED light bulbs. LED light bulbs are a little more on the expensive side than traditional bulbs but they last much longer, are much more efficient, and produce much less heat than traditional bulbs.
So, yes you’ll end up paying more for these bulbs on the front-end but they’re a worthwhile investment in the environment and will help lower your electric bills over time.