50 Ways to Reduce Your Energy Bills

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Are you outraged by the high prices of your recent energy bills? Do you feel like there’s nothing you can do about the seemingly random and crazy fluctuations? I hear you and I was in the same boat, but here’s how we dealt with it.

I know we were shocked to be faced with an almost $700 dollar bill in January of 2023 and wondered how on Earth it could be so high. We are not abusers of overpowering or overheating our home and it’s just me and my husband so it isn’t like we have a house full of people using heat and electronics.

It literally felt like to us if we burned a pile of cash it might be cheaper to stay warm than using our heat.

The majority of our bill was heating and probably stemmed from the recent high gas prices. But, even though the electricity was the smallest portion, it still added to our already exorbitant payment.

Options were: Freeze to death? Turn off our furnace? Work another job just to pay for the bill? Use our living room to make bonfires? Wrap ourselves in blankets and Eskimo gear?

We opted to just do everything we could to reduce our consumption. And guess what? My last bill was $185.00. Granted, gas prices have come down and the weather has gotten warmer, but we certainly started to pay attention to little things that might have contributed some to getting that bill down.

Here’s a screenshot of our last few utility statements:

One of the things I did after our January bill was I wrote an email to our state’s public utility commission (PUC) explaining that I felt these bills were unacceptable. Others had done the same and posted about it on NextDoor. I don’t know if this had an impact or not, but since the bill is lower now I have to think every complaint might have helped. I would say don’t hesitate to call your utility company AND anyone else who might be able to help, including your government representatives and even the news channels.

I followed many of the steps that I have listed below and felt like this did have a large impact, especially turning down the average heat and trying to use alternate, non-gas heaters to avoid the furnace / gas usage. We dug out a couple of oil radiators like these and cranked these up while we were home.

Here you can see the trendline finally going in a positive direction:

50 Steps towards Energy Reduction

If you are trying to reduce your electric/gas bill, consider some of these methods:

Adjust your thermostat to a lower temperature in the winter and a higher temperature in the summer. Just a few degrees can cut down on your bill significantly.
Install a programmable or smart thermostat to optimize energy usage.
Use natural ventilation and ceiling fans instead of air conditioning whenever possible. We have a whole house fan that we run in summer once the house cools down and this pulls all the hot air out of the house so the A/C doesn’t have to work as hard continuously.
Seal air leaks around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk. Our house had a few really drafty windows that we covered with cheap weatherseal tape and it worked great so that we weren’t feeling any cold air come through anymore.
Insulate your home properly, including walls, attic, and floors.
Install energy-efficient windows and doors.
Use energy-efficient LED or CFL light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.
Take advantage of natural daylight by opening curtains and blinds during the day in the winter, closing them at night to keep the windows insulated. During the summer don’t open the blinds as often to keep the heat down.
Unplug electronics and appliances when not in use to prevent phantom energy usage.
Use power strips to easily turn off multiple devices at once.
Opt for energy-efficient appliances with the ENERGY STAR label.
Wash laundry in cold water and hang it to dry whenever possible.
Run your dishwasher and washing machine with full loads.
Clean or replace air filters regularly to maintain efficient HVAC system operation.
Lower the temperature of your water heater to 120°F (49°C).
Insulate your water heater and hot water pipes.
Take shorter showers and install low-flow showerheads.
Fix any leaky faucets or pipes promptly.
Use a microwave or toaster oven for small cooking tasks instead of the oven during the summer.
Cook with lids on pots and pans to reduce cooking time and energy usage.
Optimize your refrigerator and freezer settings and keep them well-organized.
Plant shade trees around your home to reduce heat gain in the summer.
Install solar panels or utilize solar energy where feasible.
Use a clothesline or drying rack instead of a dryer.
Install low-flow faucets and toilets to conserve water.
Opt for energy-efficient landscaping and irrigation systems.
Use a slow cooker or pressure cooker to save energy and reduce cooking time.
Insulate your garage and keep the doors closed to reduce heat loss.
Seal gaps around electrical outlets and switches with foam gaskets.
Use natural lighting for tasks during the day instead of turning on lights.
Enable power-saving features on your computer and other devices.
Turn off or unplug electronics when not in use, including TVs, gaming consoles, and chargers.
Use task lighting or energy-efficient lamps instead of lighting up the entire room.
Use weatherstripping or draft stoppers on attic hatches and crawl space entries.
Use natural ventilation or exhaust fans in the kitchen to reduce heat and moisture.
Insulate and properly seal your fireplace when not in use.
Make sure your refrigerator and freezer doors seal tightly.
Clean the lint trap in your dryer after every use to improve efficiency.
Use energy-efficient window coverings like blinds or shades to reduce heat gain in the summer.
Consider installing a solar-powered water heater or heat pump.
Use a power meter or energy monitoring device to track your electricity usage.
Dry clothes back-to-back in the dryer to take advantage of residual heat.
Consider air-drying dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s drying cycle.
Opt for natural fibers and layered clothing to keep warm in cooler temperatures.
Use rugs or carpets on cold floors to improve insulation and comfort.
Consider heat-reducing window films or shades to reduce heat gain in the summer.
Use space heaters in frequently used rooms instead of heating the whole house. Opt for energy-efficient space heaters with programmable timers and safety features.
Contact your energy company and discuss options to reduce your bill.
Observe peak-hour rules so that you are doing house chores during the most cost-effective times.
Contact your Public Utility Commission and complain about price gouging.

Downloadable Checklist

Download this Checklist To Keep On Top of Major Contributors to high Energy Bills around Your House

Energy-Reduction Statistics

By implementing some of these simple measures, such as adjusting thermostat settings and using energy-efficient appliances, you can save a lot on heating and cooling costs.

Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers, can save you up to 20% on your energy bills. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
Switching from incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient LED bulbs can save you around 75% on lighting costs. (Source: ENERGY STAR)
Using a programmable thermostat to schedule temperature adjustments can save you up to 10% annually on heating and cooling costs. (Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Properly insulating and sealing your home can reduce heating and cooling costs by 15-30%. (Source: ENERGY STAR)
Water heating typically accounts for about 18% of a home’s energy use. Lowering your water heater’s temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit can save you 3-5% on water heating costs. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
Phantom energy usage from devices in standby mode can account for 5-10% of residential energy consumption. Using smart power strips to prevent standby power can help reduce this waste. (Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
Installing solar panels can significantly reduce electricity costs. On average, solar panels can cover 70-90% of a household’s electricity needs, resulting in substantial long-term savings. (Source: Solar Energy Industries Association)
Energy-efficient windows can reduce energy loss by 25-30% compared to traditional windows. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)
Regular HVAC maintenance, including cleaning or replacing filters, can improve energy efficiency by 5-15%. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy)

Overall, by being conscientious and making good choices, it’s possible to reduce utility bills by 20-30% or more.

I’m not going to say we’re completely out of the woods as prices might become insane again, but at least there are a few things within your control that can cut down some of your bill. I hope this helps you with some ideas of what you might be able to do to bring yours down as well.

(Also, these things help with reducing your carbon footprint in general, which is great.)

If you would like to read more ways to help the planet – check out this blog post: