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Electricity rates have sky rocketed here in the North East, and because I’m always looking for ways to lower my electric bill, I decided now was the time to start developing a plan to cut costs before the warmer months hit.
You don’t want to be waiting to implement these strategies when it’s already warm and the air conditioner is running; that will defeat the purpose. You want to cash in on the savings as soon as you flip the switch and the AC’s humming, so you too can lower your electric bill.
Here’s some money saving strategies that will surely save you money not only this summer, but all year long.
Table of Contents
1. Get An Energy Audit
Now’s the time to get on the list for an energy audit.
When they come out, these guys check out your entire house, which translates to savings not only in the warmer months, but in the winter too.
When I got my energy audit I got a couple of cool things for free:
- They replaced all my non energy efficient light bulbs and replaced them with CFL bulbs. They even replaced my recessed lighting bulbs, too. In total, I received over 30 free bulbs saving me over $100.
- I have a pull down attic in my home and so I was fortunate enough to receive an attic stair insulation hatch. If you had to purchase one of these yourself, it could run you anywhere from $100 – $300 depending on the type you purchase.
- Last but not least, they installed a new, upgraded, programmable thermostat. Even though I had one, they said mine was outdated and this would provide better temperature control in the house. This saved me $99.98.
This was just the awesome free stuff I received by having an energy audit. Additionally, I saved 80% on home insulation for the attic. I opted to have the work done, which ended up costing me $288 out of pocket.
I can tell you I’ve saved a bundle on my heating costs this winter. I’m not paying any more money than I paid last year for heat, but I’m not freezing in my home anymore. Instead of keeping the heat at 67 degrees, I’m able to turn it up to 70 degrees with no additional out of pocket cost to me and an overall savings of 5% from last year.
2. Install Sun Control Window Film
After several years of dealing with drafty windows, windows that were cold to the touch in winter and blazing hot in the summer, I finally had all my windows replaced with energy efficient windows.
Problem solved, except for the sliding glass door in my living room.
That glass door had been replaced years earlier and it unfortunately wasn’t replaced with energy efficient glass. The door itself was in near perfect condition and I couldn’t justify replacing it at a cost of $2500, so I looked for a solution.
Last summer I finally found the solution to this problem – sun control film.
Sun control film allows you to turn your existing glass windows into energy efficient windows blocking over 80% of sun and heat.
I installed the film on my glass sliding doors and noticed and immediate difference. The glass stayed cool to the touch, the room was much cooler, and the air conditioner wasn’t forced to work overtime to keep that room cool.
The film cost me around $40. I can truly say it was worth the money.
3. Look For A Lower Cost Energy Provider
If you live in a state that recently deregulated energy, you could save big time by shopping around and choosing a different energy provider.
National Gird, my former electricity provider, recently jacked up their rate to more than $.16 per kilowatt. That translated to a 37% increase over last year!
That was totally unacceptable to me, so I was off and running looking for a new provider. I eventually found a provider with the right terms for me and at a rate I could live with.
My new rate of $.105 is more in line with what I was paying prior to the increase. Contact Gulf Electricity to see if you can save money in your area. Use this code 8q9vey to start saving money today!
Find out if you live in a deregulated state and see if you can save money by switching.
Money saving ideas for cutting costs on your electric bill doesn’t have to leave you in the dark or sweating because you can’t afford to turn on your air conditioner.
Get started now and implement these strategies to save money all year long.
