In summers and winters, the electric bills are outrageously high. According to Austin Texas Energy Consumption Data, there is a consistent jump in electric bills in the month of June through October. The average electric bill in each of these months is $123.85, compared to the average bill of $68.97 in other months. It is worthwhile to note the electric bills differ from location to location, given variance in climatic and population factors.
Nevertheless, the point reminds the same. Seasons greatly affect our electrical energy consumption, especially how much we are able to save on electric bills. Therefore, it is important you keep your electrical consumption low during these peak seasons. If not, you will be paying a lot for your household electrical consumption.
ways to save on electric bills
Regardless of the contributing factors of high electric bills, here are ways to save on electric bill:
1. Use A Setback Thermostat To the Regulate Electric consumption Of Your HVAC Systems
Since heating and cooling make up 50% of a building energy consumption cost, a setback thermostat is necessary to ensure you save on power bill. A setback thermostat is an programmable thermostat which is used to schedule heating and cooling. The best part of this programmable instrument is it allows you to set a schedule for these processes. Once set, the heating or cooling schedule automatically happens multiple times a week, until you reset it.
According to US Department Of Energy, the use of a programmable thermostat will save you up to 10% annually on electric bills. What this means is that if your annual expenditure on electricity to keep your house warm or cool is $2000, a setback saves you $200 annually.
To fully optimize a setback thermostat to save on utility cost, North Carolina Energy Office advices you setting the thermostat back. For heating on winter, a temperature range of 65 oF to 70 oF is recommended. During summers, a temperature range of 72 oF to 78 oF is recommended for cooling. Here are the Energy Office recommendations for programmable thermostats:
| Period | Time | Temperature To Set (Heating) | Temperature To Set (Cooling) |
| Wake | 6:00 am | 70 oF or Below | 78 oF or More |
| Day | 8:00 am | Set back to 8 oF or more | Set up to 7 oF or more |
| Evening | 6:00 pm | 70 oF or Below | 78 oF or More |
| Sleep | 10:00 pm | Set back to 8 oF or more | Set up to 4 oF or more |
The table recommendation seems contrary to what you know about heating and warming your residence, does it not?
Well, it works. When the temperature of your house is lower than the outside, energy loss to external environment is slow. North Carolina Energy puts the savings at 5% to 12% for an 8 oF to 10 oF temperature setback and 9% to 18% for 10 oF to 20 oF setback. Obviously, this is one of the best ways to save on electric bills.
2. Use Energy Efficient Windows, Draperies And Curtains To Prevent Heated Or Cooled Air Loss
What are energy efficient windows, draperies and curtains?
Energy saving windows are windows designed to prevent or slow heat transfer and loss. Due to inefficient windows, 30% of heated or cooled air is lost constantly. Since 50% of your monthly electric bills goes into the heating and cooling of your apartment, it is vital you prevent heated air or cooled air from escaping your home. This is because any loss of heated or cooled air will make your heating or cooling system work hard. As a result, it will take additional electrical energy to compensate any heated or cooled air loss.
Using additional electrical energy results in an increase in electric bills, does it not?
Additionally, high efficient windows like interior cellular shades are good at preventing heat loss during winters. Even during summers, they act as a buffer against heat gain from outside your home. As a matter of fact, the United States Department Of Energy puts the efficiency of this buffer at 40% or more in preventing heat loss. This translates to about 20% heat energy savings.
During winters, interior cellular shades can reduce heat gain from outside by 80%. This is important, since a lower interior temperature slows heat loss to the outside environment. When you think about it, this seems to be contrary to what we want to do; which is to open the windows to allow the heat in. But, it works.
Finally, draperies and curtains are good at managing the heat loss which results in high bills. To save on electric bill during winters, the use of draperies can prevent 10% heat loss. In summers, draperies with reflective sides facing the windows can prevent heat gains for up to 33%. As long as the sides are not black in color, they will not absorb and hold heat. As a result, your air conditioner will not work so hard to cool or warm your room. Thus, you will save electricity bill on AC.
3. Install Solar Panels To Save On Electric Bills
How much does solar panels save?
Honestly, it depends on a number of factors. Factors like quantity of solar panels, amount of household electrical consumption, angle of solar panels (efficiency of solar energy collections) and others contribute to the savings. Either way, the installation of solar panels in your home always pay off the cost of purchase. In the long run, installing solar panels can save you money.
Similarly, the installation of solar panels can get you some tax credits too. There are government incentives for people who use solar panels, instead of total dependence on national grid system. Click here for more information on renewable and efficiency state incentives.
4. Replace Your Regular Electric Bulbs With Occupancy Sensor Lighting Types
Electric bulbs or lightings make up about 20% of a building’s electric bill. This is according to an energy consumption paper, Wireless Sensors for Lighting Energy Savings, by the United States Department of Energy. In order to save on electric bills, it is important the lighting cost is regulated to avoid additional cost to power bills.
Usually, we recommend turning off the lights during daytime or non-use times. Often, this is not efficient since we forget to. Therefore, one of the top ways to save on electric bills is to use occupancy sensor lighting switch or controls. This is because it saves 10% to 90% on light bills.
What are occupancy sensor switches and controls, my good reader?
These are devices that either turn on light or turn off light, when they detect the presence of people within their vicinities. They can work on a vacancy mode and an occupancy mode. The vacancy mode allows the vicinity user to choose whether to turn on or off the light. Regardless of the outcome, the vacancy mode will automatically turn off the light when you leave.
On the other hand, the occupancy sensor will automatically turn on or off the light when you come in and leave. As can be seen below, the United States Department of Energy puts the savings of both types.
| Space | Savings |
| Breakroom | 29% |
| Classroom | 40% to 46% |
| Conference Room | 45% |
| Corridor | 30% to 80% |
| Private Office | 13% to 50% |
| Open Office | 10% |
| Restroom | 30% to 90% |
| Storage Space | 45% to 80% |
| Warehouse | 35% to 54% |
The above are the estimated savings, according to the Energy Department for buildings. For small spaces like homes and apartment rooms, a wireless sensor type of lighting is recommended. You probably have seen this type of bulbs. Most are passive infrared, which work when they sense light, motion and heat from you. You can replace your regular electric bulbs with these, in order to save at least 10% on your light bills.
5. Unplug All Appliances, When Not In Use To Save On Electric Bills
Sounds easy, does it not?
Well, it is because it is one of the easy ways to save on electric bill. All you have to do is to unplug all your electrical appliances from your wall outlets. Especially, when they are not in use. Or even better, in times of absence from home.
According to Harvard University, energy loss through plugged appliances not in use, contributes to 5% to 10% increase in electric bills. We do not even think about this at all. There is this norm that as long as we turn these electrical appliances off, they will not be using electrical energy. In reality, this is not the truth because of a phenomena known as Ghost or Vampire Energy Loss.
What does this mean, dear reader?
It is a benefiting name for a phenomena, resulting from appliances that are plugged in and turned off still using a little bit of electrical energy. They may not consume the same amount as in active periods. But considering a monthly ghost energy loss, this can amount to a lot. This is why it is important to unplug all appliances, when not in use. Especially, when you are away. You can leave refrigerating units alone, since they tend to drip water.
Save On Electric Bill Using Ohm Connect
What is ohm connect?
Ohm connect is a company, which help you save energy and money by reducing your energy usage by 10% or more. You can get rewards towards your next electric bill payment, simply by turning off your electrical devices during high peak hours.
Ohm connect will send you text messages, whenever electrical companies want its users to reduce their electrical usage. For each hour your electrical appliances are unplugged, you get points which you either withdraw as cash or pay towards your bills.
The best part of this deal, is it is free for the user. To join, click on sign up for Ohm Connect. It is a free service and it will benefit you immensely.
Finally, you can slash your monthly electric bill to 50%. Although seasons tend to increase the cost of your electric bill, it can still be regulated. This is a fact, regardless of whether it is in winter or summer. For this to work though, you have to take actions towards saving money on your electric bills. As a result of these actions, you will see an immense decrease in your energy bills.
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