Four Simple Ways You Can Save On Your Energy Bill

Energy is a necessary utility to heat and power our homes, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have to pay for it. In fact, many homeowners are paying much more than they actually have to when it comes to their monthly energy utility bill. If, like many homeowners today, you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and save yourself some money on your monthly expenses, read on for some top tips on how to keep your energy bill as low as possible.

Use Energy Efficient Appliances

Switching from conventional to energy efficient appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers, air conditioning systems and even your household boiler can help to reduce the amount you pay for your monthly energy bill. When shopping for new appliances, you should check the Energy Star rating of any appliances which you look at before you decide to buy. Although energy efficient appliances tend to cost more to buy than their conventional counterparts, you can be certain that since they use around ten to fifty percent less energy, you’ll soon make the money back in savings.

Switch Providers

Thanks to Alberta energy deregulation, there’s no need to simply stick with the rates provided by your local utility provider. Different energy providers offer a range of different rates, and since most don’t tie you into a contract, it’s possible to change supplier every time you find a deal that’s going to save you some money. Some homeowners like to go for a fixed rate when they see a cheaper price – however, if you’re going to do this you should remember that although your rates won’t rise if the company puts their prices up, they won’t go down either if your provider starts charging a cheaper rate.

Smart Living

When it comes to saving energy, being smart around the home is sometimes all that it takes to knock a few dollars a month off your energy bill. Simple things such as taking shorter showers instead of baths, making sure that lights are switched off when not in use, and not leaving plugged-in electrical products such as a television or desktop computer on standby can all help to cut down the amount of energy which you use, resulting in a lower amount on your bill.

Audit Your Home

Performing a thorough energy audit on your home will help you to discover the areas where unnecessary energy is going to waste, costing you money which you could save. Air leaks around windows and doors and worn insulation in the attic are all simple things which you may not notice, but could be costing you money each month without you even knowing. Perform an energy audit yourself or request that your energy company send a professional to audit your home in order to discover any issues that are causing extra energy usage and rectify them to start making savings.

What simple things do you do daily to cut down on energy or other utility bills? Let us know in the comments.

 

About the author: Calvin is a journalist and blogger who specialises in articles concerned with all things business, from finance, to management, to keeping a green office, and even the real estate aspects. For more information contact Calvin here: calvpage@gmail.com.