10 Ways to Save on Electric Bills in New York

Many New Yorkers are frustrated by the high cost of electricity in the area, and some may even be feeling financial stress because of energy costs. In fact, your bill may be $100, $200 or more each month. The expense can vary monthly, and this makes it challenging to properly budget for it. If you feel anxiety before opening your electric bill each month, now is a great time to take action. There are many steps that you can take now that can dramatically lower your electric bill for years to come.

1. Change Your Roof

A considerable amount of energy in the home is lost as climate-controlled air escapes through your roof. Some roofing types are more insulative than others, and making an upgrade to an older roof can result in energy savings. In addition, the color of your roof can play a role in energy consumption as well. Lighter colored roofs reflect light while darker colors can absorb heat from the sun’s rays. If you plan to change your roof soon, choose a lighter color.

2. Add More Insulation

You can also add more insulation to your home’s walls and roof. Insulation acts as a blanket around your home, and it keeps the climate-controlled air indoors where you want it for maximum energy efficiency. Spray foam insulation is one of the more cost-effective solutions that you can choose, but you can compare R-values on insulation to make the best decision for your home. An insulated garage door can also be a beneficial improvement to make.

3. Reseal Doors and Windows

Energy may also be lost when climate-controlled air escapes through improperly sealed doors and windows. Resealing the doors and windows is a simple and cost-effective project that most homeowners can complete as a weekend project. This can have a dramatic impact on your comfort level in the home as well as on your energy costs because it keeps your climate-controlled air indoors where you want it and helps your HVAC system to function more efficiently.

4. Compare Electricity Suppliers

Another great idea is to switch energy supplier to one that offers more affordable rates. You can compare electricity suppliers online today to find a plan with a lower rate than what you are paying now. To make a switch, simply initiate service with the new supplier that you have located. This process may only take a few minutes of your time. When you switch energy supplier today, you will benefit from having a lower rate applied to all of your future energy bills.

5. Close Your Blinds

You may largely use your blinds to control light in the home as well as privacy. However, by blocking the sun's intense light, you can also control the temperature in the room. In addition, blinds have some insulative properties that add further benefit. This means that closing blinds can keep heat out of the home on warm days and coolness from penetrating into the home on chilly days.

6. Adjust Your Thermostat

A major component of your home’s energy costs stems from climate control. An automated or programmable thermostat gives you the ability to control temperature settings based on your typical needs each day. For example, when you are away from home, you can program your thermostat to run your HVAC system less frequently for financial savings. Be sure to adjust your programmable settings seasonally to take full advantage of these benefits.

7. Change Your Lightbulbs

Lighting can also be a major component of electricity costs in the home. A smart idea is to turn off lights that are not in use. You also can control the cost of electricity by changing your lightbulbs to more energy efficient versions. For example, LED lighting is much more cost-effective than compact fluorescent light bulbs. Solar lighting in the front yard can enhance your landscape and save additional money.

8. Buy Energy Efficient Appliances

If your appliances are older, it may be cost-effective to make an upgrade to models that are more energy efficient. Some people like to hang onto their appliances until they completely die, but modern innovation in new models makes these models far more energy efficient. Some appliances, such as the fridge, operate non-stop each day, and you can save a fortune on energy costs when you choose an EnergyStar model. The dryer is another appliance to focus on because this appliance is one of the most significant energy drains in the home.

9. Eliminate Ghost Usage

In many homes, ghost usage accounts for a fair share of energy consumption. This phantom usage describes the small amount of power that is used by your alarm clock, computer, coffee pot, TV and other items when they are plugged in but not actively being used. It is best to put these items on a master switch so that you can completely shut off power to them when they are not being used.

10. Adjust Your Hot Water Heater

If you are serious about saving money on your electricity bill, adjusting your hot water heater is also a wise move. Upgrading to a tankless model can save you the most amount of money. This is because a tankless model only heats up water on demand. A tank-style hot water heater keeps water heated whether it is being used currently or not. If you cannot make an upgrade right now, adjust the thermostat on your tank-style hot water heater so that less electricity is being used.

The last thing you want is to be forced to pay a high electricity bill each month. This can cramp your lifestyle, and it can even prevent you from achieving major financial goals. For example, you could save an extra $30 or $50 per month to invest in your financial future rather than toss this money away paying an electricity bill. As you can see, there are many steps that you can and should take today to start enjoying savings on your electricity bill. The individual effect of some of these may be rather small, but the cumulative effect over the course of the year can be substantial.