I’ve been struggling to get my energy bills down in any conceivable way that I can.
When I learned how amazingly energy efficient LED bulbs are compared to both incandescents and CFLs, I replaced all of the light bulbs throughout my house.
It wasn’t the biggest change in the world, but I noticed a dip in my electricity bill afterward. This emboldened me to get my energy costs even lower. I bought surge strips for all of my major electronics and appliances so I could cut the energy coming from the wall even when these items are powered off. Although not the biggest change, it still had a net positive effect on my energy costs. Using less hot water in the shower helped as well. I didn’t realize that my water heater was using so much electricity to heat my water. Thus far, the biggest change in my electricity costs came after I had my central heating and cooling system replaced. This house has the same air conditioner and furnace since before I purchased it 10 years ago. It was long overdue for an HVAC upgrade. I specifically requested an air conditioner with the highest SEER number that I could still afford. This would mean that I’d get the strongest and most energy efficient machine while staying within my self-imposed budget. I’m happy that I got a new air conditioner because my electricity bill dropped by 30% a month after the installation was complete. I tell everyone from friends and family to coworkers that getting an energy efficient air conditioner is one of the surest ways of getting your monthly electricity costs down.