High energy bills can be incredibly inconvenient at the least and financially crippling at its worse. Fortunately, there are effective ways to keep your energy bills down as much as possible, and they are easy to implement. The following are four common factors that lead to increased energy bill costs.
Outdated appliances
Outdated appliances often require as much as three to four times as much energy than modern, energy-saving appliances. Although the thought of paying for new appliances might not seem appealing, making the switch can actually save you a lot of money in the long-run. Several of the more common appliances that require more energy when they are past their prime include the refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, washing machine and even the dryer. Of course, upgrading all of them at once might not be financially feasible, but finding more energy-efficient options over time is certain to have a positive impact on your energy bills.
Idle appliances
A common misconception among many is that appliances do not require or use electricity when they are not in use. However, many appliances have a feature that enables them to stay in idle or “rest” mode rather than completely shutting off. To power the rest mode, electricity is required. Albeit a small amount of energy, the idle feature on certain appliances such as televisions, coffee makers, etc. can add up over the course of a month, leading to increased energy bill costs. The simple solution to this is to ensure the appliances are all the way off or unplugged when not in use.
Lights & ceiling fans
It is no secret that lighting plays a large role in energy bill costs, and it is important to know how to properly manage lighting in your home in the most cost-efficient manner possible. One great way to keep your energy bills low is to focus light in precise areas where it is needed, rather than using overhead lights to brighten the whole room. In other words, utilize lamps and candles more, and be sure to keep lights that are not needed turned off. Also, ceiling fans that run constantly throughout each day can become expensive. It is helpful to keep each one turned off if no one is in that particular room.
Laundry & dishwasher
A washing machine, dryer and dishwasher are essential elements to any household, but far too many families use these three appliances way more than necessary. You can likely significantly reduce your energy bill payments by becoming more efficient with the way you do laundry and the dishes. For example, instead of smaller loads of clothes every other day, try doing laundry only once a week. The same applies for the dishwasher – be sure to use the space inside of your dishwasher in the most efficient way possible to minimize the number of loads that are required. With proper planning, you can come up with a plan to make it work for the whole family while also saving money each month in energy costs.
EXIT Realty Bob Lamb & Associates is Murfreesboro’s most innovative real estate team.
EXIT Realty Bob Lamb & Associates
2630 Memorial Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615) 896-5656