Owning a home comes with many amazing benefits that make your life a lot easier. But your monthly utility bill is not one of those benefits. However, there are many things you can do to decrease your utility costs and make sure that you are spending less on energy bills and more on making your life even better. Here are a few decisions you should start making to ensure that your utility bills are always as low as they can be. 

Add Extra Insulation 

One of the main things that drives up utility costs is poor insulation inside your home. When you aren’t properly insulated you face the double issue of air from outside your home coming in and the air from inside your home escaping out into the world. Both of these things lead to wasted energy and more expensive utility bills each month. By bringing in more insulation , especially in the most common problem areas (like attics, garages, and around windows and doors), you can make sure that your utility bill is as low as possible whether you are in the dead heat of summer or the most freezing days of the winter months. 

Improve Weather Stripping 

In addition to insulation, you also want to make sure that you have the proper weather stripping you need to keep your home protected from the elements. Weather stripping helps to prevent cool air from entering your home around your windows and doors. It can also help to ensure that during the summer you aren’t losing major amounts of air conditioning outside. Because no matter how great your HVAC system is, it isn’t good enough to effectively heat and cool the inside of your home as well as the environment around you. Make it a point to weather strip your home and to check in on the weather stripping as the seasons change each year. 

Use an Efficient Water Heater 

No one wants to have to spend their days taking cold showers, or to spend a small fortune keeping their water warm. However, with an efficient water heater, you can keep your water warm and save on your energy bills. And if you choose an efficient model you can also be sure that water will heat up more quickly and be easier to keep warm throughout the day. This is great because it not only helps you to keep your utility costs low, but it will also help you and your family to live happier lives, and to be excited to shower, rather than dreading the shocking feeling of cold water hitting your skin. 

Do Eco-Friendly Landscaping 

Most people think of their utility bills as something that is impacted by what happens on the inside of their home. And while this is certainly true, it is also impacted by what is happening on the exterior. Your yard is a place that can take a lot of energy to keep running, especially if you have a traditional grass lawn. By choosing less needy options for your landscaping, you can cut down on the water you use, and the utility costs you have to pay. Options like native plants and gravel sections to your yard can all help you to cut down on your costs. And there are many types of gravel that can take the place of your lawn. 

Get New Lightbulbs 

Lightbulbs seem like such a small thing that most people don’t even think about the impact they may have on their utility bills. However, you likely have many lightbulbs throughout your home, and their operating costs can really add up. By replacing your light bulbs with more efficient options you can really cut down on your utility costs each month . More efficient light bulbs will also last longer, which means you won’t have to replace them as often. Over time this will save you additional money and help your home to be even brighter without increasing your utility costs. 

Upgrade to a Smart Thermostat 

The thermostat you use can simply be a tool you use to adjust the temperature in your home, or it can be a convenient way to track your energy use and change your habits. With a smart thermostat, you can control the temperatures in your home through your phone, which is great whether you are away on vacation or simply already in bed. It can also help you to see when you are expending the most power and to give you tips and ideas on how to cut back on your energy use. There are many options for smart thermostats so you can do some research to find the best fit for your home. 

Get Solar Panels 

One great way to cut down on your utility bills is to become less dependent on utility companies. And one of the best ways to make that happen is to install solar panels to help power your home. Depending on your local climate solar panels can range from significantly decreasing your dependence on the electrical grid or even removing that dependence altogether. It can be expensive to install a solar panel system , but there are tax breaks available that can save you a lot of money on those installation costs. 

Choose Energy Efficient Appliances 

A lot of energy is used by appliances each day, and while you can cut down on your costs by using those appliances less, that tactic can only go so far. By investing in energy efficient appliances , you can help to decrease your energy bill every time you use your appliance. The energy star rating system is a great tool that you can use to help you choose more efficient appliances, and once you have them, all of your appliance uses will be more efficient. 

There is nothing fun or exciting about spending a ton of money on your utilities every month. And wouldn’t you rather spend your money on something a little bit more fun? By improving the efficiency of your home, you can make sure that your utility bills stay low so you can have a bit more fun.

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