10 Ways to Save Energy and Money

It’s no surprise that the energy we consume is pricey, whether we’re buying gasoline, heating oil, or electricity. Yet many people are shocked when they add up all their monthly bills to see precisely how much their energy consumption costs them annually.

According to various research, in 2023, the average household spent $2,449 on gasoline and $2,412 on electricity.

Anything you can do to conserve energy and keep more money in your pocket is a step in the right direction.

Let’s take a look at 10 painless ways to reduce consumption and cut your expenses.

Key Takeaways

• Adjust your thermostat based on the season as well as whether you’re home or away to reduce your energy consumption and cut costs.
• Ceiling fans, energy star appliances, and energy-efficient light bulbs can also help you save.
• Even when they aren’t in use, home electronics use energy and increase your electricity bill. So turn them off or unplug them.
• Set up your shower, faucets, and toilets to use less water, and regularly change or empty your furnace filters to keep the unit at its most efficient.
• Sealing and insulating your house, closing doors, windows, and shades, and using trees and other greenery for shade are other low-cost ways to cut energy usage and bills. 

1. Adjust Your Thermostat

Turning up your thermostat during the summer and turning it down during the winter are great ways to cut energy use. The Department of Energy (DOE) recommends adjusting your thermostat 7°-10° for 8 hours a day from its normal setting.

Whether it’s summer or winter, this can keep your house comfortable while reducing your energy costs and decreasing the demand on the energy grid.

A programmable thermostat lets you make the house hotter or cooler during periods when you aren’t home. This reduces the temperature difference between the exterior and interior of your house, which in turn reduces energy loss.

If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, you can manually adjust your existing unit.

2. Use Ceiling Fans

If you have ceiling fans in your house, turn them on and use them properly.

According to Energy Star, a voluntary labeling program sponsored by the DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ceiling fans should be set to spin counter-clockwise in the summer. This pulls hot air up to the ceiling and away from the living space.

In the winter, reverse the setting so the fans blow the hot air down.

3. Buy Energy Star Appliances

Energy Star also identifies energy-efficient appliances, including washers, dryers, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, room air conditioners, computers, and more.

When shopping for new appliances, look for ones with the Energy Star label. It ensures that the items you are considering will help you save money.

Of course, don’t increase the use of these items just because their lower energy consumption results in a lower energy cost. Consuming more defeats the purpose.

4. Turn Off Home Electronics

Stereos, DVD players, televisions, kitchen appliances, and any other plugged-in appliances draw a small amount of power even when turned off.

Use the surge suppressor to turn them completely off when not in use, or unplug these items until you really need them.

5. Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs

A quick and easy way to reduce your energy use is to replace existing incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs. According to the DOE, the switch to LED lighting can save about $225 in energy costs per year for the average household.

Regardless of the bulbs you use, turn them off when you leave the room. For laundry rooms, garages, basements, and other little-used areas, consider the installation of timers that automatically turn off the lights after a preset amount of time, just in case you forget to shut them off.

6. Conserve Water

Low-flow fixtures that conserve water are available for your shower, faucets, and toilets. In addition to installing these items, be sure to replace faucets that drip, fix toilets that leak, and turn off the spigot when brushing your teeth or scrubbing dishes.

Every drop of water you save contributes to the conservation of this valuable and indispensable resource.

7. Seal and Insulate

A well-insulated house can reduce the amount of money you spend on heating and cooling. Start by checking your attic for insulation. In an unfinished attic, you shouldn’t be able to see the floor joists. If you can see them, you need more insulation.

Also, be sure to fill in and seal any holes in your exterior walls, such as the places where pipes come into the house, and around windows and doors.

Wrap your boiler and exposed pipes with insulation to help them maintain the proper temperature.

8. Change or Empty Filters

Change the filter on your furnace on a frequent basis. Many furnace manufacturers recommend doing it quarterly or even monthly to keep the unit operating at peak efficiency.

Similarly, empty the lint filter in your dryer after every use. Even a small amount of lint reduces energy efficiency. A lot of buildup could even cause a fire.

9. Close the Doors and More

Close the doors on your refrigerator and house as quickly as possible. Keep fireplace dampers shut when not in use. Close the curtains to cover your windows when the temperature is low. During the summer, close them to reduce the heat that comes through your windows

All of these efforts may seem small, but they certainly can help to conserve energy and reduce your utility bills.

10. Use Trees and Other Plants

Strategically placed trees and bushes can help reduce your heating and cooling costs. During the summer, trees provide shade. During the winter, they and other plants can provide a windbreak.

Positioning large deciduous trees in the right places can reduce cooling costs by up to 25%, according to the DOE.

These deciduous trees should be planted on the south and west sides of your home. They can be positioned strategically to shade hard surfaces that retain and emit heat, including driveways and patios.

Because they lose their leaves in winter, trees allow the sun to warm your house. Evergreen trees planted on the north side of your home will help to shield the house from cold winds in every season.

Can Solar Energy Heat a Home?

Yes, it can, although you might need to supplement it with other energy when sunlight is scarce. Solar energy can be used to heat your water or your inside environment. It can also be used to generate electricity to power heating or cooling appliances.

Could an Electric Space Heater Cut Heating Costs?

It could if you use one in just the room in which you spend the most time, shut the room’s doors, and turn down the thermostat for the whole house. The same idea applies if you happen to use a wood-burning stove. Then, essentially, you’ll be heating just one room in the house and saving on other heating energy costs.

What’s the Best Way to Save on Gas?

The best way to save on gas is to drive your car as little as possible. Combine your errands into a single trip whenever you can. Take public transportation and carpool. Depending on the area where you live or work, consider walking or riding a bicycle. Also, make sure your car is properly maintained to ensure fuel efficiency.

The Bottom Line

Cutting your energy consumption conserves valuable resources and can save you money. It’s not that hard to do if you are mindful of your energy use and your options for reducing your consumption. Once energy conservation becomes a habit, you should see a difference in the bills you pay.