April 22nd is Earth Day, and it’s a great time to think about what we can all do to protect our planet and reduce our impact. To celebrate that, we want to talk about how to reduce electricity bills and stay environmentally friendly in our homes.
The last year has seen many of us working from home or spending more time in the house looking after our families. As a result of spending that much more time at home, energy bills have been rising. No one likes to be faced with unexpectedly high bills— and especially at a financially volatile time— and lots of people are wondering how to reduce electricity bills and keep costs down. At WRCU, we’ve put together a few simple ways to begin saving energy and reducing our environmental impact along the way. Be
Be Cognizant of Your Routine
There are lots of small changes we can all make to our daily routines that can have a huge impact on our bills and electricity usage. A few examples of things that could make a big difference are:
- Turning the lights off in rooms that we’re not using
- Leaving lights off in rooms with good sunlight during the day
- Hand washing dishes if there are only a couple rather than running the dishwasher
- Turning the heat down
These may seem like such small changes to make, though they can really add up if we all do them!
Get Appliances Checked Routinely
Over time, appliances like air conditioners and furnaces can become inefficient and fail as things like dirt, dust, and dander build up. It’s worth getting a professional to take a look at your appliances and make sure they’re running as efficiently as possible. This could reduce your energy bills substantially and also prevent future problems (that tend to cost a lot more money). Now is a great time to make sure things like air conditioning units, air ducts, and air filters are all running smoothly and efficiently before the summer comes.
Be Smart with Heating, Cooling, and Thermostats
Another thing that can help is being conscious about heating and cooling your home. For example, try to keep heating to the minimum comfortable temperature during working hours, and consider adding extra layers or comfy clothes instead of turning up the heat. You may also want to have a smart meter fitted— if you haven’t already— to see how much energy your home is consuming and where you can save.
Small changes can make a big difference for your utility bills and your home’s environmental impact. If you do reduce your bills, it can be a good idea to put the extra funds aside to help with savings.
White River Credit Union is committed to supporting you with your finances, savings, and goals.
Visit our learning area for financial literacy webinars and more tools for financial health. If you would like help with saving and allocating finances, reach out to us at any time; we’re always happy to help.
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
