How to Save Electricity and Reduce Your Bill – theday.com

Electricity is a necessary utility that is easily taken for granted until the power goes out or the monthly bill arrives. Once we lose service during a storm, we realize how much we need electricity to comfortably get through even the most uneventful days. We use it for basics like heating and cooling our homes, cooking and preserving our food as well as lighting our homes and many other necessities like communication. For all the value that electricity has in making our lives comfortable and more productive, sometimes paying the bill can be a real challenge. To lower the expense, look for ways to reduce usage and waste. One sure way to reduce usage and lower the household electric bill is to spend less time at home. However, during the coronavirus pandemic, health officials advise us to spend more time at home, rather than less.

Since reducing our electrical usage by scheduling our time away from home may not be an option, here are some other suggestions for lowering our electric bill:

Save money on lighting by what the U.S Department of Energy refers to as

daylighting which is the use of natural light rather than electric light. To take advantage of daylighting, arrange furniture for indoor activities like board games, puzzles and reading near windows during the daylight hours. If it's in your budget, invest in energy-efficient skylights, timers and sheer drapes or light-filtering shades that let light in without sacrificing privacy. Also, get in the habit of turning off lights when leaving a room.

To save electricity used for heating and cooling update or install weatherstripping and insulation. Stacy Freed writing for

Houselogic.com says, "Plug and caulk holes caused by penetrations such as electrical outlets, and seal leaks around windows and doors using caulk andweatherstripping. Outside, use spray foam insulation to fill holes. Replace window glazing to keep the seal tight." This will help prevent outside air from seeping into the house and keep inside air from escaping.

In addition, furnaces and air conditioners use filters that can be replaced to make them more energy efficient. In addition to changing the filters, keep thermostats at higher temperatures for air conditioning and lower temperatures for heating to reduce electricity usage. If the outdoor temperature isn't too hot, using a fan in the summer instead of an air conditioner can save electricity and keep you cool. When to switch on the air conditioner or turn up the heat is a personal decision probably left to the person responsible for paying the energy bill. In the winter turning the thermostat down and wearing layers of clothing rather than turning up the heat can save electricity as the furnace switches on less often.

Another way to save electricity and lower the bill is to keep your appliances clean and maintained. The DIY experts at The Family Handyman Magazine write that "Your refrigerator uses more electricity than all your other kitchen appliances combined. To keep its energy costs down, clean the coils twice a year, which improves efficiency by 30 to 50 percent." They also suggest that keeping the lint trap and ductwork clean on the clothes dryer uses less electricity and increases drying efficiency. Consider drying clothes on a clothesline to eliminate using the dryer completely.

Invite other members of the household with you for a tour your home and together list ways electricity use can be reduced and put a plan in action. A team effort can motivate everyone involved in setting and achieving the same goals. Changes in daily household electricity usage and keeping appliances running efficiently can result in a lower electricity bill and a happier home.

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How to Save Electricity and Reduce Your Bill - theday.com