How to Reduce Your Electricity Bill in New York

Did you know that the average American spends more than 117.65 dollars a year on electricity?

It simply means that the electric bill eats up nearly 5-10 percent of your income. However, an electric bill includes many things. And finding out exactly what to look for is the most challenging part of your reducing your monthly electricity bills.

There are many ways to lower your energy bill every month without having to sacrifice your daily comforts.

Every home has its own energy consumption rate. For example, someone living in a 900-square foot apartment own fridge, TV, oven, and HVAC system.

A 2500 square foot single-family home will be unique as the bigger space comes with more lighting, cooling, and heating. You might have more appliances that you use often. No wonder why you might end up consuming more amount of energy than someone living in a one-bedroom apartment.

Luckily, there are several ways you can save money on your energy bill. We all know that turning a light off when, not in use and keeping heating and cooling to a minimum. But there are a few more ways to save money off of your electricity bill every month.

Here we have divided them according to the key areas in your house such as kitchen, bathroom, entryways, and outside.

Kitchen:

• Raise your refrigerator temperature by a few degrees can save you significantly. Keep the fresh food section at 36-38 Fahrenheit.
• Make sure to turn your coffee maker off and unplug them as well. This is because it has a clock or timer that is likely to run all day, meaning that it can consume energy when turned off if it is plugged.
• Use a dishwasher as it can save you 5,000 gallons of water a year, leading to a lower energy bill. You can run your dishwasher at night rather than in a day as it helps reduce energy demand during peak hours.
• Allow your food to thaw before you cook it. It needs less time and energy for it to cook, saving you a few bucks on the bill.
• Minimize the use of broiler as it consumes large amounts of energy in a short duration of the function.

Laundry:

• Clean your dryer’s exhaust with a lint remover kit every month to increase the airflow through the exhaust duct. This way, your dryer can perform more efficiently while your clothes will dry faster.
• Use dryer balls to dry your clothes.
• Prefer cold water to wash your clothes as the temperature in the washer doesn’t matter to clean your clothes. Modern technology has made cold water just as effective to wash clothes.
• Air dry your clothes as it saves you $1.08 per load. 

Lighting:

• Replace your bulbs with LEDs as they are likely to consume 80 percent less energy than conventional incandescent.
• Use smart power strips as they let you separate energy loads based on how often do you utilize a device. You can turn all the devices off at once when you leave the house instead of having to unplug each device individually.

Windows:        

• Use the window shades in the summer to block out heat coming in through the windows. According to the Department of Energy, this practice can minimize heat gain by up to 77 percent.
• Clean the windows in the winter. Residue or oils from windows can hinder sunlight from entering your home. Sufficient sunlight into the home can raise heat gain at upwards of 70 percent, without you having to manually increase the temperature.
• Place more plants around the windows and then cool the house by providing extra protection from the sun.

Heating and Cooling:

• Keep your thermostat at a level temperature. You can do this by increasing the thermostat temperature during cooler seasons and decreasing in warmer seasons. This way, you can minimize your energy use enough to save 10 percent a year on heating and cooling.
• Cover all the leakage points in entryways where heating or cooling can escape.
• Constantly monitor your HVAC equipment. If your HVAC equipment doesn’t seem to work, ask a qualified HVAC expert to check it. 

Outside:

• • Use reflective roofing materials such as white materials or paint the roof to keep the reflections from the sun off in the summer. Have large trees and plants on the lawn and have the shade face the home. This way, you can protect your home from excess sunlight and extreme weather.
  • Installing a green roof can also be a great way to lower your energy bill. These roofs not only absorb the heat in summers but also keep the home warm during the winter.
  • Use solar lightings to save more. Solar panels can help save larger on your electricity bills.