Energy Efficiency Tips to Help You Cut Electricity Costs

As today is Energy Efficiency Day, #EEDay2023, I figured it would be a good time to go over some energy efficiency tips you can use to help reduce electricity costs at home or in the office.

We all know, unless you have solar (or another form of renewable energy), energy costs can put a serious dent in your budget. My home electric bill went up quite a bit this past summer…to put it mildly. But, in addition to saving on your bill, these tips will help you become more efficient with your energy usage and help lower your environmental impact.

6 energy effiency tips

Use these six tips to help improve your energy use and efficiency:

1. Seal Up Tight

One of my first tips is to seal up any and all potential places where air could be getting in or out of your home. Heating and cooling are two of the largest sources of energy consumption in your home, so you don’t want to end up inflating your bill due to leaks.

Start by looking for air leaks around your doors, windows, pipes, light fixtures, baseboards, fireplace, vents, fans, attic and more. Once you find a leak, seal it up using caulk or weather stripping.

2. Use Your Blinds and Shades

Blinds and shades aren’t just for privacy purposes or restricting light. You can actually improve your energy efficiency by making your shades or blinds work for you. During the winter months, you can open your blinds in the morning to allow the sunlight to help heat your home naturally. In the summer, closing the shades when the sun starts beating in, can help keep your home cool and lower A/C costs.

3. Unplug Your Electronics

People always talk about the personal benefits of unplugging, but when you unplug your electronics, you benefit financially as well.

Are you used to keeping your computer, printer and other electronics plugged in? Well, you can save money by unplugging these devices after use. Don’t even leave your computer in sleep mode. Turn it off when you’re done and make sure it’s unplugged. You can turn it on when you’re ready to use it again and plug it in when it needs to be charged.

If you want to keep devices “plugged in”, then connect them a smart power strip to help get rid of energy vampires. You might be surprised to find the sources of vampire energy in your home. A phone charger, a coffee pot, a toaster and a video game console all use small amounts of energy when they are plugged in. Even devices which turn on automatically (via remote) continue to use power unless they are unplugged. Unplug and you’ll save money.

4. Turn Off lights not in use

Along the same lines as unplugging, it’s important you turn off lights when they are not in use. When you leave a room, turn off the lights. Even when you’re home, you don’t need to keep all the lights on. Turn on the ones you need and keep the rest off. This small action can help you save money by reducing energy use.

5. schedule the use of certain appliances

Anyone who is connected to the grid knows power companies charge more for energy at certain times of day. Most companies have peak hours during which you will be charged a higher rate. It is for this reason, you should schedule the use of certain appliances.

If you need to run your dishwasher, plan to do it either earlier in the day or after 9pm at night. This goes for your laundry, too. Even though your energy is coming from the same source, using it during off-peak hours saves.

You can also reduce the amount of water you use, and frequency of use, by waiting until you have a full load before running either your dishwasher or washing machine.

6. OPT for led and energy star®

What you buy has just as much impact on your electric bill as when it is used or whether it’s plugged in. To help improve energy efficiency even more, consider opting for LED light bulbs and Energy Star® electronics or appliances. With these particular products, the energy efficiency is built in.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t turn off your LED lights when not in use, or unplug your Energy Star monitor, it simply means these types of products can improve energy efficiency.

Renewable saves even more

You can reduce electricity costs even more by investing in renewable energy. Consider getting solar panels on your roof. Install a wind turbine in your yard. Incorporate a micro-hydro system into your landscape (if your property so allows). Any one of these can help you save quite a bit on your energy expenses. Check with your local providers to see what options are available.

In the meantime, use the tips mentioned in this Biofriendly DIY. Each tip can help you improve your home’s energy efficiency and lower your monthly bills.