How to Reduce Your Electric Bill

In Arizona, the cost to cool your home paired with high utilities can suck the fun out of any homeowner’s wallet. If you’re considering renewable energy alternatives to reduce your electric bill, you may want to take a few steps to reduce your power consumption and make your home more energy-efficient.

Cut Energy Consumption from Your Small Appliances

Did you know that small appliances continue to use energy when they’re plugged in but not in use? This includes mobile chargers that are plugged in but not connected to the device. You can stop these energy leaks by unplugging appliances and chargers between use. Alternatively, you can invest in smart power strips which cut off power to devices that are not in use.

Cut Energy Consumption from Your Lighting

LED lights are 80% more efficient than traditional lights. They produce less heat and more light than incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. Install LED lights to reduce the energy consumption and heat put out by regular light bulbs.

Cut Energy Consumption from Your HVAC System

Service Your HVAC System*

An HVAC system that is not running correctly uses more energy. Replace your air filter regularly. A dirty air filter slows airflow and can cause your HVAC system to exert more energy to heat or cool your home. Along the same lines, to keep your HVAC running efficiently, it is important to have your system serviced regularly and your ducts cleaned.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

In addition to servicing your HVAC system regularly, you can increase HVAC efficiency and cut your utility bills by installing a programmable thermostat.

Cut Energy Consumption from Your Major Appliances

Like your HVAC system, major appliances that are not running correctly use more energy. Service a dirty or malfunctioning appliance to improve its energy efficiency and cut utility costs.When it’s time to upgrade, replace old or malfunctioning appliances with energy-efficient appliances to greatly reduce your electric bill. Run appliances, like the washer, dryer, and dishwasher at night during off-peak hours to reduce utility costs and prevent appliances from heating up the home during the hottest hours of the day.

Cut Energy Consumption from Your Water Heater*

Reduce water heater temperature. Unnecessarily high water temperature is a scalding risk and a waste of energy. Add insulation to your water heater and pipes to keep water warm and prevent heat from escaping into your home.

Cut Energy Consumption from Your Washer and Dryer

Wash laundry with cold water and run full loads of laundry to save energy.

Another appliance that needs to be regularly cleaned and serviced is your dryer. Keep the lint trap and dryer vent lint-free to increase dryer efficiency and decrease drying time. Line dry laundry to eliminate the cost of drying clothes, and prevent the dryer from heating your home.

Cut Energy Consumption from your Oven

Your oven and stove-top produce a lot of heat inside your home while consuming a lot of energy. Because on-peak hours coincide with dinner time and the hottest hours of the day, home-cooked meals greatly increase your utility bill. When possible, grill out or use the microwave to reduce the amount of energy used to cook and cool the home. Preheating your oven is not only unnecessary but a waste of energy and an additional source of heat in your home. Keep food covered and turn off your stove-top a few minutes before food is done. Food will continue to cook as the burners cool, reducing energy consumption and the heat that escapes into your household.

Cut Energy Consumption from Your Refrigerator

Dirty coils behind your refrigerator increase the amount of heat and energy it puts out. Routine maintenance improves your refrigerator efficiency. Keeping your refrigerator and freezer full will also improve efficiency. Food should be cool when it is placed in a refrigerator so energy is not spent cooling food. Food and drinks should also be covered to prevent condensation, which reduces refrigerator efficiency.

Cut Energy Consumption from Your Dishwasher

Your dishwasher is another source of heat and energy consumption. Turn off heated dry, and wash dishes at the lowest temperature setting to reduce the expense of running a dishwasher and the amount of heat it puts into your home. Hand washes to completely eliminate the cost of running your dishwasher.

Insulate your Home*

Your home is most likely insulated. But is it insulated enough? Inadequate or aging insulation can increase the cost of cooling your home. Add insulation to your home to reduce your energy consumption and utility bills.

Insulate and Ventilate Your Attic

Your attic is a great place to start when updating your home insulation. If you’ve ever been in your attic during the summer, you know how sweltering hot it can get. Heat stored in the attic increases your home temperature and your cooling costs. As well insulation, adequate attic ventilation, and installation of a ceiling fan will reduce the high attic temperatures and your overall cooling costs.

Insulate Your Windows and Doors

When you have leaks around your windows, doors, and outlets, heat comes in and the air that you’ve spent money cooling seeps out. Calk and insulating tape will reduce leaks around windows and doors. Insulating foam will prevent leaks that happen around outlets.

Another way to reduce the energy loss from windows is to insulate them. UV film, room-darkening insulated drapes, and outdoor awnings reduce the solar heating through the windows. Replace single-pane windows with double-pane windows to provide additional insulation and improve your energy efficiency.Invest in Solar

Line-drying, hand-washing, room-darkening shades….we know some of these energy-saving tips aren’t for you. But if you’re looking for green ways to reduce your utility costs without cramping your style, solar power may be your answer. Not only will solar increase the value of your home, but there are tax incentives and financing plans that make solar installation affordable. If you’re interested in reducing your utility costs by supplementing with solar energy, a representative from Redline Electric & Solar would be happy to help. For more information, give us a call at 480-430-1939 or visit our website at iamredline.com.

* Ask us for a referral to an awesome trade contractor.

NABCEP certified Redline Electric & Solar is the best choice for your electrical and solar needs in Arizona. We are a family-owned and operated electrical contracting business, with over 60 years of combined experience. We pride ourselves in our honesty, integrity, and high-quality work, with 100% satisfaction guaranteed to our customers. When you choose Redline Electric and Solar, you can have peace of mind and be confident that you made the right decision.