If you have noticed an increase in your utility bill then you are not alone. Over the years the cost of electricity per unit has increased. But that’s only one side of the equation. With time the number of appliances in a house has also always seen growth. While we cannot restrict ourselves from using modern technology we can use it smartly to minimize our utility bills.
Tips on reducing your monthly utility bills
Switch to LED lights
- LED lights are the future. If you are still utilizing old CFL bulbs, it’s time to say goodbye, and for many good reasons. Definitely when it comes to electric consumptions LED consume far less electricity than traditional tube lights and CFL. This can bring down your utility bill by a good margin.
- Not just this, LED can deliver brightness twice as much as an old bulb while consuming lesser power. Also, LED comes in various colors, shapes, and features. Some can be operated via a mobile app while others can be controlled with a remote control to change its brightness as well as its colors. Hence switching to LED can enhance your home while helping you save some money.
Use major appliances at their optimum capacity
- If you are one of those people who set their air condition below 20 degrees Celsius to make your room a cold storage then you are paying a premium price for it. Setting your air conditioner that low can make you feel like winter but it is difficult for your appliance to achieve it. This puts your appliance under a lot of load. Ultimately resulting in more electricity consumption than it would have been the case if you would have set it to the optimum level. Usually, that optimum point is around 24 degrees Celsius.
- Be it your microwave, refrigerator, or any other device, they all operate similar to air conditioners. They will require more electricity if they are used to their fullest potential for a long period. Resulting in higher utility bills.
Optimize your space
- What if I told you that the location of your fridge had an impact on your utility costs? Yes, it is accurate. The compressor is located on the refrigerator’s back side. At the rear, there is a significant heat exchange. There must thus be some sort of air circulation going on. Therefore, if you position your refrigerator so that the rear side doesn’t get adequate airflow, it will be under strain and use more electricity. It is somewhat comparable to blocking the exhaust vent for your CPU, which keeps your computer cool. Therefore, where you install particular appliances has a big impact on how much energy you use.
- Similarly, air conditioners come with varying capacities in terms of the area they can cover for cooling. By keeping windows or doors or adjacent rooms open your air conditioner could be consuming more power to cool larger areas than what it is capable of.
- Hence optimizing your space plays a crucial role in limiting your utility bills.
Use smart devices
- Today, a switch may function as a smart device in addition to your phone. Everything from adapters to lightbulbs to appliances is loaded with cutting-edge technology. The fundamental idea behind smart gadgets is that they enable remote control and monitoring from a mobile device.
- If you are someone living alone or rather someone who tends to forget to turn off light this is probably the best investment you can make for yourself. This will help you to turn off unwanted power points when not in use as well as help you with monitoring how much each appliance or PowerPoint source is consuming electricity. This can help you limit unnecessary background usage of your power by turning it off when not in need.
Consider rating of the electronic goods
- The rating should be given great consideration while purchasing electronic equipment like refrigerators, air conditioners, etc. The goal should be to only purchase five-star-rated items. Although these items have a somewhat expensive initial cost, their power costs are incredibly cheap, and after extensive use, their value is restored.
Get regular servicing
- Be it running water from the faucet or faulty and dusty appliances. They need servicing from time to time to function smoothly. Maintainers come with a cost. But that cost would be much lower than what you end up paying in utility bills monthly due to rusty or faulty equipment.
Conclusion
Your electricity bill reduction doesn’t have to be difficult. By putting these simple suggestions into practice, you can start reducing your monthly electricity costs right now. Keep in mind that even little adjustments to your routine and household appliances might result in considerable savings over time. If you want to estimate how much each of your appliances consumes power you can use the online calculator to get an estimate.