Studies have shown that Americans are more interested in saving money on their utility bills than any other monthly expense. There are many ways to save money on utilities. Bank Rate.com recently mentioned some good ones and I added one you may not have thought of.
Switch energy suppliers.
Did you know several states have a “Guaranteed Savings Program” for gas and electric? Americas #1 retail provider of energy, Ambit Energy , is guaranteeing you will save money over your incumbent provider. Due to the government deregulation of energy you have a choice of supplier. Your bill still comes from the same company it does now and they continue to deliver the gas and electric to your home you just save money on the supply part of the bill. These states are New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Illinois and Washington DC. To learn more and check rates in your area visit: Guaranteed Savings Rates & Plans
Install an irrigation meter
If you have sewer taxes many people don’t know that when you use water from your faucet, you’re being charged not just for the use of the water, but for its disposal as well. While it makes sense that water that ends up going down the drain needs to be filtered once again, not all of the water you use goes down the drain. If you have a pool, or you use a lot of water in your garden or yard, you shouldn’t be charged a “maintenance fee” of sorts until the water actually goes back into circulation.
Steady your water heater temperature
Your hot water heater doesn’t need to be set any higher than 120°F. First of all, water warmer than that will almost certainly scald your skin. Second of all, there really isn’t much use for water that’s below the boiling point but still too hot to touch. Lastly, setting your water heater higher than 120°F causes it to work overtime, meaning it will likely end up dying out sooner than later. Keeping your hot water heater regulated can save you around $50 a year, plus lessen your risk of needing to repair or replace it.
Use reusable HVAC filters
It’s tempting to go with cheap filters for your heating and cooling units, thinking they’ll save you money and work just as well for the time being. But, despite being 2-4 times more expensive than their single-use equivalent, permanent filters will save you money in the long run for a variety of reasons. Your electric motor will not work as hard with a clean filter they’re easily cleanable, and are meant to withstand long periods of use.
