6 Easy Ways To Cut Down On Your Electric Bill

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Let’s face it — we all cringe before looking at our monthly electric bill, especially in the months that we’re heating or cooling our spaces. If you’re tired of shelling out for your utilities, you don’t have to keep the AC or lights off to save a few bucks. Here are six easy ways to keep that bill as low as possible.

1. Keep your freezer full.

While you’re at it, fill your refrigerator, too. Packing both your freezer and refrigerator full of food and drinks will keep the temperature regulated inside, which means less energy will be wasted on cooling. If you don’t have enough stuff to fill your appliances, keep bags of ice in the freezer and pitchers of water (or bottled beverages) in the refrigerator.

2. Unplug appliances and cords from your outlets while you’re not home.

Most of us leave our cellphone chargers plugged into our outlets without considering the energy that it eats up. Even worse: some of us even leave appliances plugged in like toasters and coffee makers. Unplug them before you leave for work and you’ll be surprised how much it’ll save you in the long run.

3. Keep your vents clean and open.

Almost everyone has vents in their apartments, whether that be an HVAC system or just your standard heating vent. How often do you clean them? If you’re like us, you can’t remember if you ever have, or maybe you did when you first moved in. Clogged, closed vents keep air flow from reaching your apartment, which wastes energy.

4. Switch your incandescent lightbulbs to LED.

You know to turn your lights off when you’re not in the room, but you probably didn’t realize that the type of lightbulb you’re using could contribute to a higher electric bill. LED lights use up to 90 percent less energy than incandescent lightbulbs, which means they could seriously save you money depending on how many lights you use.

5. Insulate your windows.

If your building or home isn’t well-insulated (you’ll know if you feel summer heat or winter chill coming from your windows even if they’re closed), you can do the job for cheap. Buy inexpensive caulk or expanding foam to line your windows to keep your preferred temperature locked in.

6. Be strategic about cooking.

Did you know that glass pans can bake your food quicker and more efficiently than aluminum or dark pans? Also, thaw any frozen foods before sautéing or baking them to significantly cut down on cook time, which will save you money in the long run.