In these times, anything we can do to save a little money is welcome. Increasingly, we have to define the monthly budget very well to reach the end of the month; therefore, an idea to feel a little more financially solvent is to spend less: less on clothes, less on the telephone and less on the electricity bill. Also, the less energy we use in our home, the less impact we will have on the environment. For this reason, we want to help you by collecting the best tricks to reduce the cost of your electricity bill. Take note!

The best tips to reduce electricity costs

Make a list of energy expenditure

This is our first advice, and perhaps the most valuable. It is about spending a little time listing each of the light sources in your home, from small appliances to outdoor lights. This will help you understand how you are allocating your electricity consumption and where you can or cannot reduce or do without it.

Review your electricity rate contract

In most countries, the cost of electricity varies depending on the time of day. For example, in Spain electricity is generally cheaper between 10:00 pm and 12:00 pm in winter and between 11:00 pm and 1:00 pm in summer. In Mexico, the most expensive hours are usually between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm and after dinner, but it depends on each State. If you are not clear on the electricity bill which hours are the most expensive and the cheapest, call your company and ask.

Check the contracted power

Perhaps you have contracted a much higher power than you really need and that is affecting your electricity bill. The more power you contract, the more appliances and lights on you can use at the same time, but the more you pay. If you have a small house or you don’t usually use manyappliancessimultaneously, you may be able to reduce the number of kilowatts (kW) contracted.

Make sure there is no light leak in your installation

It is advisable to carry out a technical review of the electrical installation at least every 10 years. But if you want to make sure you don’t have any leaks that are increasing your electricity bill, you just have to turn off all the electrical sources in your home and check if the meter moves or is still. If it keeps moving, it means that there is some kind of failure in your installation.

Compare the rates of the electricity companies in your country

Depending on where you live, you may have the option of contracting electricity with different companies. If so, take advantage of online rate comparators to hire the rate that meets your needs efficiently.

Use supporting apps

Also in many countries there are apps or applications for smartphones and iPhones that allow you to check your electricity rate in real time. This will give you an idea of ​​​​the hours of the day when electricity is more expensive or vice versa, helping you to reduce.

Use the appliances that consume the most in the cheapest hours of your rate

Once you know exactly what time of day the kilowatt is cheaper, you can take the opportunity to use one of your electrical appliances in this time slot, such as the washing machine, theory the dishwasher.

Reduce the number of bulbs

Do you really need as many light bulbs as you use in your house? Make a count and detect if you have unnecessary light sources.

Switch to LED bulbs

If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to invest a bit in changing the light bulbs in your home for low-energy ones. LED bulbs consume between 70 and 80% less than incandescent bulbs and 30% less than fluorescent bulbs. In addition, they have a longer useful life, break less easily, do not emit UV rays and light instantly without heating. It’s all advantages!

Adapt the voltage of your light bulbs to the spaces in your house

Perhaps you are using too high a voltage for a small room that is lit with minimal voltage. In kitchens we may need more light intensity for cooking, but in bedrooms with dim lights it is enough. By reducing the voltage of your light bulbs (even LED ones) you will save a lot on your electricity bill.

Goodbye to standby

Turn off all electrical appliances and devices when you’re not using them, including your modem. The stand-by mode of the television or the coffee maker can increase your electricity bill between 8 and 10%. To make it easier to do this, install power strips or multi-contact devices where you connect several appliances at the same time and can turn them off with a single switch.

Take advantage of natural light

It seems obvious, but many times wears the blinds down and turns on the light in a room in broad daylight.

Buy energy efficient appliances

If you are going to make a purchase of a new appliance, make a smart purchase and buy an appliance with low consumption. It will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Use your appliances in saving mode or low consumption

Many of your appliances have saving or low consumption functions, even if it is not an appliance classified as saving. Use the saving function of theory dryer, you will save on your electricity bill.

Reduce the temperature in the washes of your washing machine and dishwasher

You can save up to 50% energy if you at 40°C instead of 60°C. Use the eco program of the dishwasher to wash dishes at 50°C instead of a higher temperature.

Regulates the temperature of the refrigerator

Ideally, keep the fridge at around 5°C and the freezer at -18°C to use it efficiently and save as much energy as possible. Also, do and avoid the accumulation of ice in the freezer to reduce energy expenditure.

Use insulating materials in your home

If you are thinking of doing a home renovation, take the opportunity to include insulating materials that allow your house to be warmer in winter and cooler in summer, such as insulating ceilings and walls or double-glazed windows, which do not allow the passage of cold nor the air conditioning outlet.

Invest in sunscreens at home

Installing an awning or a special roof on the façade of your home or on the terrace can help you improve the energy efficiency of your home in summer, since these devices prevent direct sunlight from entering through the windows and, therefore, the entry of excessive heat. This will mean that you do not have to abuse the air conditioning or the fan so much.

Check if the air escapes through the doors

It is estimated that 5% of the heat in a home escapes through the lower door openings. To avoid this and thus save electrical energy in heating (if that is the heating system of your home), use specific insulating weather stripping for this purpose or, where appropriate, rugs and mats that do not let air escape.

Don’t let the air escape through the windows

Windows are the biggest outlet for cold (air conditioning) or heat (heating) in a home, around 25%, no less. Therefore, apart from investing in good windows, it is advisable to use thick curtains in winter or soft ones in summer.

Bet on gas

This advice depends on the country you live in, since in some countries gas is more expensive than electricity. But in general, gas is considered to be more energy efficient and has a lower price than electric power.

Less heating and more clothes

In winter, lowering the heating by one degree can save up to 7% of energy. So if you have an electric heating system, you will save a lot of money on your electricity bill. The recommended temperature at home in winter is 19 to 21 degrees Celsius. In addition, as recommended in the Guide to reduce electricity bills and save at home provided by the Government of Aragon (Spain), when the heating season begins, purge the radiators, thus making sure that there are no air bubbles. Air that hinder the transmission of heat from the hot water to the outside.

Less air conditioning and less clothes

If you need to use air conditioning in summer, use it between 23 and 25 degrees, the more degrees, the less energy spent.

Play with your home textiles

To reduce energy consumption in winter, use cozy and warm textiles in your home, such as thick curtains, rugs, wool or similar… and in summer, change them for softer and fresher fabrics. This will allow you to need your heating and air conditioning less frequently.

Invest in smart appliances

These types of appliances can turn your house into an energy efficient home. On the market you can find smart thermostats that regulate the temperature of your home depending on the time of day, smart plugs connected to an application on your mobile phone to control the use of light and your electrical appliances from the same, and even monitors of electrical consumption with which you can control to the maximum the electrical energy consumption of your home.

Shorten your showers

If you have an electric shower system or the water heater is electric, this tip is essential to save on electricity consumption.

Get in the habit of turning off the light when leaving a room

Leaving lights on in your home without really being useful can add considerably to the cost of your electricity bill.

Don’t leave lights on at night

If you need to leave a light outside or in the garden for security, look for solar light solutions.

Place the air conditioner in a cool and ventilated place

Did you know that any electrical device consumes less energy if it is located in a cool and ventilated place? Also, try to change the air conditioning filters as often as the manufacturer indicates.

Stay up to date with preventive maintenance for your appliances

Electrical appliances in poor condition can considerably increase energy consumption. Try doing the recommended maintenance on your washer, dryer, dishwasher, or refrigerator.

Use the vegetation in your favor

If you have a single-family house, you can take advantage of the vegetation to create shade in summer and thus feel cooler. For example, with vines or fruit trees.

Cook efficiently

When you cook, there are many things you can do to use less electricity, especially if you have a ceramic hob and an electric oven. For example, taking advantage of the residual heat from the ceramic hob to finish cooking a stew, using pans and pots that are just the right size for the amount of food, that they are of good quality so that they maintain heat better, using a pressure cooker (which reduces 75% of the energy used), avoid opening the oven while food is cooking or covering the cooking containers while cooking.