20 Simple Ways to Save Electricity in 2024

New Year’s resolutions are inevitable topics of conversation around this time of the year. We’re sharing  — not one New Year’s resolution — but 20 different ways you can lower your energy bill in 2024 and help the environment out a bit, too.

1. During cold-weather months, dress warmly and set your thermostat to 68 degrees or lower. Every degree of extra heating increases energy usage by 6-8%.¹

2. Air dry your dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s heated drying setting and only run your dishwasher when it’s fully loaded.

3. In hot weather, raise your thermostat to 80 degrees or higher if you’re leaving your home for more than four hours.² 17% of the average household’s energy use can be attributed to cooling.³

4. Clear your vent area of objects that may block airflow. By removing items such as furniture and paper, you’ll be saving as much as 25% of the energy that would be required if your vents were blocked.

5. Turn off the lights when you leave a room to save both energy and money. The average U.S. household has about 70 light bulbs.⁵ By replacing your home’s five most frequently used bulbs with ENERGY STAR rated bulbs you can save up to $75 every year.⁶

6. Change out the lightbulbs in your home and install LED and energy-efficient bulbs. ENERGY STAR certified LED light bulb uses up to 90% less energy than regular bulbs.⁷

7. During the summer, heat and humidity-generating activities such as cooking or dishwashing should be done at dawn or dusk to avoid excess heat creation. ⁸

8. A whopping $200-$400 of your annual energy bill may be lost to drafts and air leaks. Ensure your home is properly insulated and sealed by identifying where your home has leaks. Then, seal, caulk or weatherstrip the identified cracks and openings.⁹

9. To cut down on appliance energy usage, air dry your clothes on a clothesline or drying rack instead of a dryer. If you do choose to use a dryer, just make sure not to overdry your clothes, or you could be losing up to $34 each year. ¹⁰

10. In order to cut down on your fuel usage, check your local public transit, bike, carpool or even walk to your next destination. Leaving your car at home just two days a week could save 1,590 lbs of greenhouse gas emissions. ¹¹

11. Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the times your air-conditioner is heating and cooling with a pre-set schedule. With a programmable thermostat, you can save as much as 10% a year by turning your thermostat up 7 to 10 degrees each day from its normal setting.¹²

12. The average American household washes 400 loads of laundry a year. Replacing your washer with a high-efficiency washer can save more than 6,000 gallons of water a year. ¹³

13. Putting your computer into the standby or hibernate power management features when not in use can save you up to $50 per computer. ¹⁴

14. Install and use ceiling fans to cool yourself and lower your energy bill. Using a fan can save you $165 in energy costs over a fan’s lifetime.¹⁵

15. Lowering the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees or lower will reduce the amount of energy needed to produce your hot water while preventing your water heater from overheating. To save even more, turn down electric and gas heaters when you’re on vacation.¹⁶

16. Take showers instead of baths and install a low-flow showerhead to reduce your water consumption and save you up to $145 yearly on electricity.¹⁷

17. By switching to high-efficiency air conditioners, you’d be reducing your air conditioning usage by up to 50%. To maintain your energy savings, regularly clean and replace your unit’s filters.¹⁸

18. Take these tips to work and turn off the lights or your computer when not in use whether you leave for lunch or for the day. By doing so, you can cut down on energy usage, even if you’re not at home! 

19. Devices such as printers, TVs and computers can keep drawing power, often referred to as “phantom” power, when not in use. Phantom power accounts for 5 to 10% of an average home’s energy consumption. To reduce this phenomenon, install smart power strips. Smart power strips reduce your energy usage by shutting down power to products that go into standby mode.¹⁹

20. Properly recycle your kitchen appliances such as refrigerators and freezers to prevent the creation of 5,500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. ²⁰

We have plenty more where that came from. For even more ways to save energy and become greener in the New Year, we’ve brought a new feature to our website! Now, you can live chat with our team if you have any questions about green energy, ways to save electricity or want to check out the latest energy plan prices. 

Finally, Happy New Year from Chariot Energy! We’re so excited to be a part of your 2023.

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Sources:

1. https://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/facts/Save.aspx
2. https://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/facts/Save.aspx 
3. https://www.consumersenergy.com/residential/save-money-and-energy/managing-your-energy-use
4. https://www.energystar.gov/buildings/facility-owners-and-managers/existing-buildings/save-energy/stamp-out-energy-waste
5. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/10/f37/Energy_Saver_Guide-2017-en.pdf
6. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/save-electricity-and-fuel/lighting-choices-save-you-money/how-energy-efficient-light
7. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2017/10/f37/Energy_Saver_Guide-2017-en.pdf
8. https://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/facts/Save.aspx
9. https://www.energy.gov/eere/why-energy-efficiency-upgrades
10. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/thermostats
11. https://www.home-water-works.org/indoor-use/clothes-washer
12. https://www.energystar.gov/products/low_carbon_it_campaign/faqs
13. https://www.energystar.gov/campaign/waysToSave#!card5-GW38
14. https://www.energystar.gov/campaign/waysToSave
15. https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-saver-101-infographic-home-cooling