Many people are not very aware of how much electricity their appliances are using.
Many times, this factor may be overlooked because the only thing that comes to mind is a straight electric bill.
What is more important to at least take note of is the fact that what you save on your energy bill could potentially fund your emergency fund.
This means that affordable ways to help reduce electricity consumption can lead to higher savings in the long run if you keep at it.
Only run the dishwasher once a day
This one is pretty obvious, but it still needs to be said.
If you run the dishwasher every time you eat, chances are good that you’ll have clean dishes more often than not — but it also means that your dishwasher will be running more often than necessary.
If you do this, over time it can add up to quite a bit of wasted electricity and water (not to mention soap).
Choose appliances with Energy Star labels
nergy Star-labeled appliances use less energy than other models and so cost less to operate over time.
Look for the Energy Star label on refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, air conditioners and heat pumps, furnaces and boilers, lighting products and water heaters.
These appliances use 20 percent less energy than other similar products on the market, which means they’ll cost you less to run over time.
Plus, if you’re thinking about buying a new appliance, choosing an Energy Star model could help you get a rebate from your utility company.
Only do laundry on weekends
Instead of doing laundry every day or every other day, try only washing it once or twice a week.
You will save money on your electric bill, and you won’t have to worry about staining your clothes with sweat or food stains.
If you are not able to do this, try washing only half of the load at a time
This will also prolong the life of your washer, so you probably will not need washer repair that often.
Most washers are top loading, so if you only fill them half way up, you will use less water and energy.
Another thing that you can do is hang dry some items instead of using the dryer.
For example, jeans or towels don’t need to be dried in the machine because they aren’t made from cotton.
These items can be hung out on a clothesline instead of using electricity from the dryer.
Wash laundry in cold water
Use cold water when washing clothes.
Most of us are used to doing our laundry with warm or hot water because it makes our clothes smell fresh and clean
But warm or hot water also uses more energy than cold water does, so if you’re trying to conserve energy and save money on your utility bill, wash clothes with cold water instead of hot or warm water. You’ll still get clean clothes — just not quite as fresh smelling!
And by the way, it will even be better on your clothes.
Keep your freezer full, but avoid overstuffing
The refrigerator and freezer are two of the most important appliances in your home.
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who has an older refrigerator, it’s time to replace it with a new Energy Star model. The newer models use less energy and cost less to operate.
When it comes to saving on energy bills, keeping your freezer full is one of the best strategies you can use.
However, don’t overstuff your freezer with food or drink; if there isn’t enough space for air to circulate around the frozen items, they won’t freeze properly.
And if that happens frequently enough, the unit will stop working correctly and require repair or replacement sooner than expected.
Fill up your oven when you cook
The more food you put into an oven, the more energy it will take to cook it.
So, if you want to save energy and money, fill up your oven when preparing meals for the day or for a large group of people.
This will also help cut down on food waste since no one would want to eat burnt food!
Use a slow cooker or rice maker to save time and energy
A slow cooker and a rice maker are two of the most useful appliances in your kitchen.
They both save energy, time and money. Slow cookers use less energy than an oven and can make food taste better because they seal in juices and flavor.
If you’re trying to get more vegetables into your diet, consider using a slow cooker to make soups, stews, chili and other dishes that call for softening vegetables first.
The same goes for rice makers — they can help you save time in the kitchen by making rice without having to stand over a stove for 20 minutes watching it boil.
Final Thoughts
It’s remarkably easy to save some cash with your appliances!
You just have to be willing to sacrifice a few of the bells and whistles of your fancy, energy-draining, expensive appliances.
Once you get into the groove of performing these simple steps, replacement appliances become less of a hassle, and they can pay off within a year or two.
