Are you looking for new ideas on how to save money on your energy bill? These types of monthly expenses usually get forgotten when talking about the overall costs of living in a home. From electricity to gas and water, a homeowners combined energy bill can run several hundred dollars each month.
Since most homes need to be heated in the winter, cooled in the summer, and provide fresh water for daily living, it is almost impossible to completely cut them from your budget. There are, however ways to minimize the costs of your energy bill by making a few minor sacrifices. Listed below are 25 energy bill savings tips that will help to save money in your home.
How to Save on Your Water Bill
There are several frugal behaviors that you can practice to help limit your water consumption in and around your home. Using just a couple of these ideas will help to save on your water bill.
- Avoid all outdoor watering including your lawn.
- Limit the number of times you flush your toilet.
- Cut back on the number of times you shower.
- When showering, turn the water off when lathering up.
- Collect rain and use to water outdoor plants.
- Keep old fish tank water to use on indoor houseplants.
- Always run the dishwasher and wash machine with a full load.
- Install aerating, low-flow faucets and shower heads to limit your water usage.
- Always take a shower instead of a bath.
Ways to Lower Your Gas Bill
During the winter months, one of the largest utility expenses for homeowners is heat. The following list of activities are ways to lower your gas bill throughout the winter as well as other months during the year.
- Set your hot water heater at 120 degrees.
- During colder months, set your thermostat to 68 degrees or below when you are in the house and awake.
- During colder months, set your thermostat to 62 degrees or below when you are sleeping or away from your house.
- Close vents and shut the doors to rooms rarely used.
- Open curtains and shades on sunny winter days to help warm your home.
- Use cold water whenever possible.
- Replace furnace filters often.
How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill
During the summer months, your electric bill is probably the highest utility expense that you pay. Here is a list of several things you can do to around your home to save money on your electric bill.
- Install CFL bulbs on frequently used light fixtures and lamps.
- In warmer months, set your thermostat to 80 degrees or above when running your air conditioner.
- Unplug unused kitchen appliances and computers.
- In the summer, keep curtains and shades down to help keep your house cooler.
- Plant shade trees on the southwest side of your home to help shade the summer sun.
- Install and use ceiling fans in the summer months to cool your home.
- Use natural light whenever possible instead of turning lights on.
- Use solar products whenever possible.
- When boiling water, keep the lid on the pot to prevent any heat loss. This tip can be used regardless if you have an electric or gas stove.
While several of these energy bill savings tips may seem to be minor changes, combined they can really add up. Any money that is saved by reducing these household expenses can free up more of your income that can be used to purchase assets or pay down any debt that you may have and put you one step closer to financial freedom.
What other energy bill savings tips do you practice to reduce the costs of owning a home?
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My cfl experiment is pretty well documented as saving me a bunch on my electrical bills. I just bought one of the hot water heater blankets that I see recommended. I’m going to try and get that installed soon. One other thing is to put up the plastic window insulation kits on any old windows. They aren’t exactly pretty, but they do work.
Thanks for the tips. What do you think of programmable thermostats? I heard they can save ~10%. for those who still need help, I found this site which gave some ways and programs that help save on heating and utility bills. Help is provided both from the gov’t and utility companies themselves.
http://www.helppayingutilitybills.com
Dawn – I need to get a hot water heater blanket myself. Our unit is in our attic, so it will get cold up there this winter.
John – I am a big fan of the programmable thermostats. We had one in our old home and it worked great!
If you have a fenced, private backyard and live in a warm climate, use the garden hose to shower during the summer. Feels great! The shampoo & soap not only don’t harm plantings but fertilize them, and if you stand near a flowerbed or veggie garden you can water the plants with the run-off. Ancillary benefit: the shower doesn’t get dirty, so you don’t have to use water and chemicals to clean it.
Funny about Money – So have you practiced this showering behavior? That may be a little extreme for me, but very interesting.
Nice post
Everyone can save money in small and seemingly insignificant areas if you know how and where to do it.
These are all great ideas
Great tips! I’ll be coming back to learn more about saving money!
Some really great tips you have there, given me some ideas and plans for the future it has! Love the website as well. Time to get saving money and get some energy light bulbs!
Good tips. Setting the hot water heater to 120 degrees? How do I do that? What is the standard setting right now?
Some good tip there I love the one about showering in the garden, it’s a shame we’re overlooked by our neighbours other wise thats a very good idea, another way of making a saving if you need to have any electric work done is to purchase all teh equipment yourself from the electrical wholesaler and just get the electrician to fit it, we saved a fortune
The ceiling fan works great in the summer. It sucks all the hot air from the house and creates a nice breeze. I insulated for this winter and plan to use a space heater in my room while I sleep so I can keep the rest of the house at a lower temperature.
@John – I have found that using our gas fireplace in the winter really helps because it is in the same room as our thermostat. It keeps the room we are in warm but doesn’t overheat parts of the house that nobody is in.
I don’t suggest closing vents to rooms you do not use. I have read on may sights that that puts undue pressure on your system and can cause it to break down earlier. Otherwise it’s a good list.
@Dave – Interesting. I close several vents in rooms that my family doesn’t use (since we bought a house that was more than we actually needed). I will have to do some more research on that one I guess. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Also another way is to switch energy companies (at least in CT, PA, and MD). I started recently switched to North American Power (www.napower.com/kdegross). I am literally saving about $20 a month in my small apartment. I didn’t even see a difference on my electric bill – and CL&P still handles any problems. I have friends and businesses doing the same too… and I can always switch back. I personally think with deregulation this is the best way.
All electrical appliances still use electricity when turned off, so better unplug it.
Very interesting tips, myself I caulk outside and inside of the Windows and doors, check the thickness of insulation on attic and the roof, insulate the hot water lines throughout the house and if you have attached garage insulate between beams and install weather strips around the garage door.
One of the best ways to keep the utility bills down is to have your AC running in perfect condition… AC is the biggest energy consuming appliance in the home anyways..
Don’t forget to change your air conditioning system air filter once a month!
I agree with Jose there are many simple steps to reduce your energy bill by just doing some simple things with your ac. For example, change your air filter regulary, make sure the condesor is cleaned, there are no obstructions over vents. Thous two just name a few!