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33 Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills Without
Spending a Dime
Refrigerators and Freezers:
1.) Freezers operate most efficiently when full. Cold food
stays cold longer than cold air does, so the less air that
needs to circulate, the more efficiently your freezer will
operate. To cut costs, fill empty milk jugs with water and
throw them in the freezer to fill up vacant space.
2.) Same principal as your freezer – as long as your fridge
isn’t stuffed to the gills, the fuller the better. Check your
damper, you don’t want anything right up against it that
could cause your fridge to work harder.
We had a repair man out years ago only tell us that a
produce bag (holding lettuce?) had been pressed up
against the damper – not allowing air to circulate.
3.) Let your leftovers cool completely before throwing them
in the fridge. Your refrigerator will have to work less to cool
it down. That’s not to say you should leave them out all
evening of course. If you’re in a hurry you could place the
food storage container in an ice bath, or stick some of these
reusable ice cubes in the food.
4.) Make sure that the seal on your fridge is nice and tight.
Test it out by placing a dollar bill in the door and shutting it.
If you can pull the bill out easily, you’re losing energy.
Dishwasher:
5.) Try and wait for a full load before you run the
dishwasher. If you really need those dishes clean (leaving
for vacation etc) and you’ve got the option to run just the top
rack, take it!
6.) Don’t use the heat dry feature. Unless you’ve got reason
to, you’re simply heating your dishes for no reason at all.
Let them air dry and save that energy.
7.) Make a habit of checking for clogged food or other
particles in the drain on a regular basis. Some recommend
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once per week, we do bi-weekly – on payday – so I
remember!
Stove/Oven:
8.) Use glass or ceramic bake ware – they hold heat better,
meaning that you don’t need to run your oven as high –
typically about 25 degree difference. Less heat = less cost.
9.) When self-cleaning your oven, do it immediately after
baking. The oven is already piping
hot – capitalize on that!
10.) If baking – especially in the summer – bake a double
batch. I take leftovers to work just about every single day.
Washing Machine and Dryer:
11.) Wash your clothes using cold water if possible, with
cold water detergent. This saves energy as you are not
heating up the water.
12.) Always try to run a full load – or adjust the load size if
needed. You’ll save energy and water.
13.) Don’t over-fill your clothes dryer. Same principal as the
damper in the fridge as noted above. If the air can’t
circulate, how’s it supposed to dry your clothes? Heat
alone? Even more energy wasted.
14.) Make sure to keep your lint trap clean. Not only is this
an energy sucker, it can be a fire hazard as well.
Heating and Air Conditioning:
15.) According to leading experts, adjusting your thermostat
by just 1 degree makes up to a 3% difference in your
energy bill. ONE degree! If you’re used to having your home
set at 68 degrees, inch your way up to 71 and see if you
can live with it. That is a 9% decrease in your monthly bill!!
Can’t do three whole degrees? You can try at least one.
16.) Do not block heat registers or return air vents. If the air
can’t flow, it can’t do its job, forcing your unit to work harder.
17.) Use ceiling fans to help circulate air. Use a low speed
to push warm air down in the winter and to help keep an
even temperature.