According to the U.S. EIA, 34 million households reported having difficulty paying their electricity bills in 2020. 

If you’re one of the millions of Americans that continues to struggle with high energy costs, there are many changes you can make to help reduce consumption and lower your bill. There are many other benefits to changing how you consume electricity too. 

This guide will discuss everything you need to know. Keep reading to learn more. 

Change How You Consume Energy to Go Green

There are many reasons why you should make changes to how you consume energy. One of the most important benefits of reducing energy consumption is how it can help the planet. 

The fossil fuels used to generate electricity in your home and around the world are responsible for the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. So reducing the amount of energy used in your home will reduce greenhouse gasses in your environment. 

Reducing your carbon footprint can be part of the solution to fighting against climate change. 

Reduce Energy Consumption to Improve Your Life

Another benefit of reducing electricity usage is an improvement in quality of life. By doing your part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, you’re helping create cleaner air in your local community. 

Clean air can keep you and your family healthy. It can encourage you to spend more time outdoors, exercising in natural sunlight and air. Staying healthy and spending time in the natural world is a crucial part of living a happy life.  

So if you want a healthier and happier life, you should take steps to reduce energy consumption. 

Reducing Energy Consumption Saves Money 

Lowering your energy bill is as simple as making changes to how you consume energy. Implementing small and large changes in how you run your household will decrease your bills over time. 

The money you save on your energy bill can go to other important expenses. No longer having to stress about high energy bills will improve your life too. 

Reduce Energy Consumption by Shutting off Appliances

Now that you know some of the benefits of changing how you consume energy, you should know some of the changes you can start making to lower consumption today. 

One easy thing you can do to lower energy use is shut off appliances when you’re not using them. Computers, televisions, and microwaves all consume a lot of energy. Once you’re done with your day, you should consider shutting everything down and unplugging your devices for the night. 

Use a power strip for your electronics so you only have to unplug one thing at the end of the day. 

Switch to Energy Efficient Appliances

Another way to reduce energy consumption is to switch out old appliances for energy-efficient models. Refrigerators, washers, and dryers consume a lot of energy when running all day. Energy-efficient versions can be powered with a lot less energy. 

You can also switch out your light bulbs for LED ones. These bulbs can light your home by using less energy than incandescent lightbulbs need.

Remember to turn off the lights every time you leave a room. Keep curtains open during the day and use natural light when you can to avoid keeping the lights on all day. 

Adjust Your Water Habits

Adjusting your water use can help reduce energy consumption as well. You can do small things like turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth.

You can also turn the water off when shampooing or take shorter showers. 

Run your washer only when you have a full load. You should also try to wash your clothes in cold water as hot water consumes more energy. Dry your clothes outside when you can to avoid running the dryer. 

Schedule Yearly HVAC Maintenance

Keep your HVAC system in good shape so it doesn’t have to overwork itself to cool or heat your home. This would cause it to consume more energy than it needs to. 

Schedule maintenance every year to get ahead of any problems that might arise. You should also shut off your HVAC system once in a while. Giving your system a break and opening your windows, if the weather permits, will help reduce energy consumption in your home. 

Fix Air Leaks

Gaps around your doors and windows can cause air leaks that make your HVAC system work harder. This will increase your energy consumption and bills. 

You can reduce consumption by inspecting your home and fixing any air leaks you find. Weatherstrip your windows and doors to seal the leaks. 

Adding insulation to your attic can also reduce energy consumption. 

Switch to Solar Power

Another way to reduce energy consumption is by switching to solar energy. Switching to a renewable energy source will lower your carbon footprint and energy bill over time. 

You’ll no longer have to worry about increasing utility prices by working with a solar company to keep your bill at a constant price. The tax incentives offered for installing solar panels and the money you save on your energy bill can help you pay off solar panel installation faster. 

Saving money with solar power is easy. 

Everything You Need to Know About Changing How You Consume Electricity

There are many reasons why you should change how you consume electricity, like a lower carbon footprint and energy bill. There are also many ways you can reduce energy consumption, like changing your water habits and switching to solar power. 

Check out some of the other blogs on our site to learn more or for other helpful guides.