Slash These Sneaky Utility Costs

When examining your budget for places to cut back, you may first look at expenditures like daily coffees, meals out on the town, or impulse buys. But unlike these delightful indulgences, some expenses rack up your monthly costs while offering you little in return. Perhaps the most variable of these are your utility bills. In fact, Forbes research found that the average American household spends $429.33 per month, or $5,151.96 per year, on utilities alone. Whether flawed equipment, outdated technology, or plain-old wasteful habits are responsible for cranking up these costs, taking the following steps could add up to serious savings.

Zap your electric bill

Depending on your usage behaviors and where you live, your home energy costs could be as expensive as your other utilities combined, so finding methods to reduce your electric bills can make a tremendous impact.

Modernize machinery
Upgrade to appliances with the Energy Star label, which indicates they are high-efficiency products offering greater power perks. You can find this sticker on just about every type of household machine there is, including dishwashers, dehumidifiers, small kitchen appliances, and even computers. Since swapping out every bit of technology in your home can be tremendously expensive, budget for them when possible, starting with major energy consumers like the refrigerator and air-conditioning unit. In the long run, these items could pay for themselves many times over with substantial electricity savings.

Illuminate for less
Rethink your light sources, swapping as many bulbs as you can with efficient Energy Star LEDs to sharply reduce your energy use in every room. Installing features like sensors and dimmers can also help prevent wasteful lighting.

Opt for off mode
Phantom energy loss is about as unwelcome as it sounds. This is when electronics that remain plugged in continue to consume energy even when they aren’t in use. While you shouldn’t necessarily go on a disconnecting spree in your home—you’re better off leaving major appliances like your dishwasher connected at all times, for instance—you can unplug charging devices, entertainment equipment, and small kitchen appliances once you’re done with them. Also consider getting smart power strips that will automatically cut electricity flow to outlets when they sense plugged-in devices are off, reducing energy waste and saving cash without you needing to lift a finger.

Schedule an audit
Did you know that some electric companies provide access to power- and money-saving tools? Many local services offer free electricity audits, or comprehensive reviews of your household power needs. In this appointment, a specialist will visit your home to identify causes of energy loss, such as flawed electrical equipment or inefficient building materials, after which they can recommend efficiency improvements.

Costly cooling

Air-conditioning is essential for beating the heat, but the bill for this comfort can certainly make you sweat. According to Forbes, running just a small central AC unit can cost an average of $1,200 to $1,800 per year—and these days, many homes have large or multiple systems that may require tremendous energy, leading to an even heftier utility bill. You might also exceed these averages if you own an older, inefficient unit or practice wasteful habits that may counteract this appliance’s hard work.

To get the most out of your AC for less, keep window treatments and interior doors closed whenever possible, switch on the ceiling fan before turning down the thermostat, and replace your air filters regularly. Additionally, your AC maintenance company shouldn’t just be an emergency contact; schedule visits at least once a year so a professional can clean the unit’s internal components, refill vital fluids, and conduct other performance-boosting tasks.

Ultimately, though, one of the best ways to save on air-conditioning is to install a programmable thermostat, which enables you to set an automatic schedule for increasing the target temperature after sundown and while you’re away, giving your AC unit some much-needed rest. Once again, look for that glorious Energy Star label. To go the extra mile, consider hiring a home contractor or aforementioned energy auditor to identify culprits that may be leaking cool air, such as drafty windows, poor insulation, or dusty ducts. You may need to hire separate specialists for tasks like ventilation cleaning and window repairing, but these investments can sharply increase AC performance for fantastic monthly savings during warm-weather months.

Water woes

Your water usage can really drain resources—and heft from your wallet. Here are some simple ways to better conserve water at home.

Empty or full?
Dishwashers and washing machines dispense several gallons of water per cycle, no matter what’s inside, so try to only run these appliances with full loads. Additionally, avoid handwashing items as much as possible since this can waste more water per minute than running automatic wash sessions.

Low-flow fixtures
Certain bathroom and sink fixtures are designed to achieve the right balance of low-flow and practical performance, reducing water waste without making you feel like you’re scrubbing your hands in a rainforest mist. For example, faucets with the WaterSense label can save up to 30 percent more water, while similarly labeled showerheads can save an average family 2,700 gallons per year. (Don’t forget the energy reduction on generating hot water too.) Yet despite this enormous impact, you may not even notice the difference until your bill arrives.

Thrifty toilets
As helpful as swapping your sink and shower fixtures may be, upgrading your toilets can lead to even greater results. According to the EPA, these major offenders may be responsible for as much as 30 percent of your indoor water use, and replacing yours with WaterSense models could save up to 13,000 gallons per year!

While there is no substitute for eliminating wasteful behaviors—we’re looking at you, people who give imaginary concerts in the shower—taking the above steps can reward you with significant monthly savings. Best of all, you lose neither convenience nor comfort when you adopt these habits, making them a win-win all around.