Regardless of whether you’re running a business or just considering your home expenditure, electricity costs can do a number on your budget. The best way to save money on your spending is to start at home – and that means reducing your electricity bill where possible.
But how do you do that? Here are four easy ways you can reduce electricity costs without affecting your day-to-day life.
1. Turn It Off
Did you know that you’re spending electricity on appliances that aren’t in use? When appliances are left plugged in without being used, they become energy vampires, continuing to use energy and boosting electricity bills. The most common energy vampires are all around you – they include:
- Coffee pots
- Computer cords
- Cell Phone chargers
- Video game consoles
These devices can make up as much as 20% of your monthly electricity bill. Luckily, there’s a simple solution – all you need to do is unplug them when they’re not in use, and you’re good to go!
2. Join A VPP Program
As the world embraces the Internet more and more, it’s unsurprising that the technology of electricity would follow suit. A VPP program, or a virtual power plant program, helps you connect with people around the area. It essentially connects your property to a network of solar panel systems and batteries that support the main power grid.
The network essentially acts as a battery, storing energy and providing members with power when needed. Programs offer incentives to join in the form of monetary rewards, which means that your energy bills go down.
3. Become A Fan – Of Fans!
Air conditioning can be a huge electricity consumer. However, you can’t leave yourself or your employees without a way to stay cool, especially at the peak of summer.
The solution is simple – ceiling fans. Ceiling fans use a fraction of the electricity that air conditioners do. This, in turn, means that you can keep costs low while still keeping spaces in your property cool!
4. Change Your A/C Filters
Doing away with the air conditioning isn’t for everyone, and we understand that. However, even if you can’t get away from the A/C, it is possible to make it more energy-efficient.
The simplest way to do this? Clean the filters in the unit frequently. The dirtier the filters, the harder the unit has to work to ensure the room is cooled. This, in turn, means that it uses more electricity – which results in power bills going up. So, the cleaner the filter, the better the air conditioning works, and the less you’ll have to spend on electricity bills.
Saving money on your power costs isn’t as challenging as it may seem at first. Along with the solutions mentioned above, make sure you’re buying energy-efficient options when you update your appliances.
If you’re buying machines like dishwashers and air conditioners, make sure to keep out for the Energy Star tag as well – this tag indicates that the appliance in question uses significantly less electricity than a standard appliance. While it may cost a little more, it will pay off over time when you look at how much money it will save you when it’s time to pay the electricity bills.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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