Did you know there are easy ways to keep your electric bill under control? With the rising costs of electricity and an increase in home appliances and electronics, it’s time to evaluate your electricity usage and learn about ways you can lower your monthly electric bills.
- Change Out Your CFL Bulbs to LED
There’s a good chance that you no longer use incandescent light bulbs in your home. In fact, you probably switched to Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) years ago. However, CFL light bulbs are now outdated and energy inefficient when compared to LED light bulbs. CFL bulbs also contain toxic metals, and they cannot use used outdoors or in light fixtures that have dimmer switches. LED bulbs can be used almost anywhere, they last for up to 100,000 hours while still using less energy than CFLs, and they do not contain any toxic metals.
- Utilize Surge Protecting Power Strips
Power strips with surge protection can save you money on your electric bill. Many have energy saving features built-in, and many are Energy Star rated. With a power strip, you can easily connect similar electronics together on the same strip, like your TV, cable box, and speakers. Once you have all your electronics connected to power strips, you can turn those electronics off at the strip when they are not in use. This helps cut down on energy waste from vampire appliances that use power even when they are not on. However, it is important to make sure your power strips have surge protection.
- Be Mindful of Light Usage
When you get up in the morning or arrive home from work, be mindful of which lights you turn on. It’s likely you don’t need to keep most of your lights on all at once. Similarly, when you finish making breakfast in the kitchen or watching TV in the living room, remember to hit the lights on your way out. You can even consider keeping the overhead lights off all together during the day if your home has good natural lighting. Another way to address this issue is smart home lighting. Smart bulbs, plugs, and switches can connect your entire lighting system digitally. This type of system allows you to apply timers, program automatic settings, and even turn off lights you accidentally left on even after you’ve left the house.
- Consider Upgrading to Energy-Efficient Appliances
It goes without saying that if your appliances are functioning correctly, there’s no need to replace them. However, as they break and/or reach the end of their lives, consider replacing them with energy-efficient, Energy Star rated appliances. New refrigerators, side-load washers and dryers, and dishwashers are designed to use as little energy as possible, which means replacing your old appliances can lead to lower electricity bills.
- Have Your Electrical System Evaluated and Upgraded
Here at BriteBox, our electricians can evaluate the electrical system of your home and recommend the appropriate upgrades. If you have an older home, we may recommend upgrading the wiring, outlets, and switches in order to improve safety. We can also install lights, change out light fixtures, and upgrade to smart home lighting so that you can easily lower your monthly electricity bills.
Need an Electrician in Atlanta?
BriteBox is an electrical contractor you can count on in metro Atlanta. Schedule your appointment online or call us today at (404) 252-3900
