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Become more energy-efficient 🔌⚡️🔋💡

You may notice that your electric bill always seems to increase during the winter. There are many reasons for that and the main one being the fact that heating a cold winter home requires a lot of electricity. We also tend to spend more time indoors when the temperature drops, so this means that our electronics get more use than normal.

Some electrical companies may introduce rolling blackouts, often at the worst time, to help conserve energy for the community. If you rely on a local utility company for electricity, this can be a disturbing awakening when your electricity gets shut off despite your bill being paid.

If you are lucky enough to have solar energy, your first winter may be a bit scary. Will you get enough sunlight to power your home? How will the increased electricity usage affect how much power you are used to storing and using? If you aren't still connected to the standard energy grid, this could be a major issue if you are not prepared, whether you still pay an electrical bill or not.

Most just suck it up and pay the increased bill amount. There are however some alternatives to that. If you are willing to make a few small sacrifices, then perhaps you can keep your bill where you are used to it being. Who knows, maybe these new habits will allow you to lower your bill during the warmer months.

There are several ways you can save electricity during the winter:

1. Keep your thermostat at a lower temperature:

Setting your thermostat to a lower temperature can help you save on heating costs. Consider setting it to around 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and dropping it to around 60-65 degrees at night or when you're not home. You can always put on more clothes if you notice yourself getting cold. Multiple pairs of socks always help.

2. Use energy-efficient light bulbs:

Energy-efficient light bulbs, such as LED bulbs, use less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs which often waste up to 90% of the energy that they use. Making this switch can help you save on your energy bills tremendously.

3. Unplug electronics when they're not in use:

Electronics, such as TVs, computers, and chargers, continue to use electricity even when they're turned off or in standby mode. Unplugging these devices when they're not in use can help you save on your energy bills.

4. Insulate your home:

Proper insulation can help keep the heat inside your home and reduce the amount of energy needed to heat it. If you have poorly sealed windows or other ways for the cold to infiltrate your home easily, then you are going to be using added electricity to make up for the weaknesses in your home's design.

5. Close your blinds and curtains:

Keeping your blinds and curtains closed during the day can help keep the heat inside your home, reducing the amount of energy needed to heat it. The thicker your curtains are, the more this will help.

6. Use a programmable thermostat:

A programmable thermostat allows you to set different temperatures for different times of the day and can help you save on heating costs by reducing the amount of time your heating system is running. If you have this luxury, make sure to take the time to set it up in a way that is smart and works well for you and your home.

7. Use a space heater or fireplace:

If you only need to heat a small area, such as a bedroom or home office, consider using a space heater or fireplace instead of heating your entire home using your HVAC. Space heaters use less energy than central heating systems and can help you save on your energy bills. If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, I think we all know the benefits and comfort of that.

8. Turn off lights when you leave a room:

Remember to turn off the lights when you leave a room to help save on your energy bills. The standard rule of thumb should be: "If there isn't anyone in the room, there should not be any lights on."

9. Use power strips:

Plugging multiple electronics into a single power strip and turning the strip off when you're not using the electronics can help you save on your energy bills. An added bonus is to use strips that have a surge protector that way storms will be far less likely to fry your electronics.

10. Consider getting an energy audit:

An energy audit can help you identify areas where you can save energy and money. Many utility companies offer free or discounted energy audits to their customers.

You don't have to burn money to stay warm 🔥💵

As you can see from the above list, there are countless ways that you can alter your normal habits to help conserve energy. This will not only prevent your bill from skyrocketing during colder months, but it will also help to prevent a catastrophic energy crisis in your local area.