Rising electricity costs are hurting everyone financially, but there are many ways to save and reduce your electricity bill. In essence there are basically only three areas on how to reduce your electricity bill:
- KW/H rate – Electricity is charged per Kilowatt hour of consumption, with the US national average currently being 13.7 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), that’s a 1.2% increase from a year ago. For those in areas where electricity costs are deregulated you should shop for the lowest rates on offer. Beware of low introductory offers that quickly disappear or rates that you are locked into for extended periods and can carry penalties if you break those terms. Websites such as chooseenergy allow you to see whats available in your state to help reduce your electricity bill.
- Conservation is the second opportunity to reduce your electricity bill, essentially using less of what we have results in savings. Turning off appliances when not needed adds up, phantom power consumption happens when electrical devices are left plugged in on stand by. Unplugging all of these when not in use will add up to savings. Turning off lights and ceiling fans in rooms unoccupied makes sense, using motion detectors for those rooms often offending will quickly pay back your investment. Also evaluate the insulation you have in your attic, it may be time to upgrade, the same goes for single pane windows, where significant amounts of energy can be lost. Make sure all doors and windows have good seals, repair all air leaks with sealant and weather stripping.
- Efficiency is the third opportunity available to reduce your electricity bill. Essentially higher efficiency provides the same output using less energy. Obvious examples are LED light bulbs,and replacing older equipment with energy star rated appliances that use considerably less electricity yet provide the same or higher output. If you live in a warmer climate when it comes time to replace your old Air Conditioning system, pay attention to the SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) of all replacement options. Modern variable frequency drive (VFD) controlled technology can have a SEER as high as 23, today in Florida the state code calls for a minimum of 14, so therefore significant opportunities exist to outperform the State minimum requirements and reduce operating costs significantly.
Investing in renewable energy production such as Solar PV makes the most sense when your building has been optimized for performance first. Eliminate all energy waste and inefficiencies and your need to generate electricity will drop. Essentially this makes the Solar PV system size smaller and your investment less, resulting in a faster return on your investment. Visit vootusolar for more advice on this topic.
Consulting with an experienced energy management company will help eliminate all energy waste as electricity cost reduction requires experience in many areas.
