8 Smart Ways to Save Money on Your Energy Bills

Being able to save money on one’s energy bills is something that most people want to achieve, particularly when economic times are tough.

There are plenty of ways to save money on your energy bills. While some are more obvious than others, the more you can do to help cut them down, the better.

Not only that, but by reducing energy bills, you’ll also reduce your carbon footprint. Here are eight smart ways to save money on your energy bills this year.

1. Adjust your thermostat

When you’re looking to save money on your energy bills, you should consider adjusting your thermostat accordingly. Your thermostat is something you want to look at closely to see just how much energy you might be using when it comes to your heating.

Heating bills can add up quickly if you’re not careful, so it’s a good idea to look at adjusting your thermostat to a more eco-efficient level. You can also get smart thermostats nowadays, which are helpful in monitoring your usage and adapting it to a level that saves you money in the long run.

2. Take shorter showers

Showers are a better option over baths when it comes to saving money on your energy bills. When you run a bath, you end up using a lot more water than you would do by taking a shower instead.

However, it’s important to be mindful when it comes to how much time you spend in the shower. You could soon run up the same amount of water usage in the shower as you would with a bath, if you spend too long in it.

Try to be mindful of how long your shower takes and try to cut that time down where you can, ideally showering for only about 4 minutes.

3. Learn about alternative and renewable energy sources

There are plenty of alternative and renewable energy sources that you could make use of when it comes to your home’s energy usage.

Solar power has become more popular in recent years, despite being around for a long time. You might have had solar-powered lights in your garden for a time, but maybe now you’re exploring the idea of solar panels for your roof in order to be more sustainable and self-sufficient as a homeowner.

It’s worth looking at what renewable energy sources you might want to use when it comes to making your home less expensive to run, solar panels included. This solar guide is a useful read to understand how solar energy works and how it can prove beneficial for future generations to come.

4. Don’t leave the tap running

Water usage again is something to be mindful of and a habit that many people have when it comes to waste is leaving the tap running.

It’s an easy mistake to make and one that many of us don’t think is doing a lot of damage. However, if you’re letting it run every day, maybe even multiple times daily, then that small amount of water could soon add up to a lot.

Therefore, it’s always a good idea to avoid leaving the tap running. Try to be mindful about turning it off as quickly as you can every time you use it.

5. Make use of natural lighting

Natural lighting from windows or even skylights is certainly worth making use of when it comes to saving money on your energy bills. With the summer nights rolling in, that means you’re likely going to be enjoying a lot more light evenings in general.

Image Source

So instead of leaving lights on, especially during the day, think about letting in the natural light—such as by opening your curtains and blinds—and using that as a way to light up your rooms instead of flicking on the lights. It’s a small change, but one that can definitely make a big difference in how your home feels.

6. Use technology to optimize your appliances

Technology is certainly something you want to optimize when it comes to your home’s environment. A lot of homeowners enjoy smart technology in their homes, and having a smart home is more easily achievable these days with all of the smart appliances now available on the market.

From smart thermostats to dishwashers to microwaves, there’s a lot that you can control from the comfort of your mobile phone. Being able to make use of this technology is certainly something that can prove helpful when you’re looking to optimize your appliances and save money.

7. Consider switching energy suppliers

Switching energy suppliers is definitely something to think about when you’re wanting to save money on your bills. While it can be quite a hassle to shift energy suppliers, it’s something that can save \you a bit of money in the long run.

Think about how much you’re paying now and use a simple comparison site to find out if you could be paying less.

There are some energy providers who will offer some fairly attractive deals in order to get you as a customer. However, it’s good to weigh up the short-term wins with the long-term contractual obligations that might involve a price hike or two. It may be worth it in some switch-overs, but not so much in others.

It’s good to do your research, even if it takes you a little while to decide on who you end up switching to.

8. Insulate your home where it’s needed

Insulating your home is a good way of saving money on your energy bills. It’s definitely worth exploring how you can better insulate your home so that it doesn’t use up as much energy, and you can find yourself saving money as a result of using less of your utilities.

Insulating your home is fairly easy, but it’s good to assess where the insulation would be beneficial and what might be lacking in certain rooms or areas of the home. Once you’ve identified the spots, you can then go about effectively insulating them.

There are many ways of saving money on your energy bills, but this is a good place to get started.