5 Ways to Save Major Moola on Utility Bills

Between the gas for those scrumptious home-cooked meals, the electric powering Netflix marathons on your extra-large TV, and your water bills (because if you don’t shower, the neighbors will stop coming by your legendary barbecues), it can seem like you spend your whole life writing checks.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. With just a few small changes you can save serious dough on your utilities every single month—and in some cases, the state of California will even pay you to do it!

Keep your cool:

Cali summers are unthinkable without air conditioning, but you can keep your home cooler for longer for cheaper with one super simple addition: a programmable thermostat. This handy device costs as little as $20, but can cut up to 10% of your energy bill every single month.

Simply set the thermostat to keep your home’s temperature at a steady level (energy experts recommend 78º when you’re home, 85º when you’re out and about) and then go do your thing. The thermostat “talks” to your air conditioner, telling it when to turn off and on to keep the temp in your home nice and even. Not only will you save a cool chunk of change, but you’ll never come home to a sweltering living room again!

Stop flushing away funds:

Want to save cash every time you go to the john? The average family of four can flush away 26,000 gallons of water a year by using an older toilet. The solution? Install a new, high-efficiency throne, and you could cut that number in half.

Even better than saving on those utility bills (and knowing you’re helping your state during this high-and-dry drought) is the sweet government rebate you can get for installing a high-performing new commode. California is currently offering residents up to $100 just to replace their toilets with these brand-new models. It’s like drawing a royal flush!

Seal in savings:

When it comes to being the coolest house on the block, you don’t have to stop with a programmable thermostat. Once you’ve got that cool air pumping, it’s just as important to keep it all inside.

A $2 tube of caulk can save 5-10% of your energy bill each month. If that’s hard to believe, think about that tiny crack around your windows. That crack, on an average window, can cause the air-leakage equivalent to a hole in your wall of approximately six square inches. Multiply that by all the windows in your home, and you can see how it adds up.

But getting those savings is a simple DIY project: all you need is a tube or two of caulk and a little elbow grease, and you can finally say no to crack.

Get hung up on laundry:

California’s drought may mean a dearth of storm clouds, but it does have a silver lining: you can hang your laundry without much worry of rain. If the thought of clotheslines and wooden pins has you seeing ghosts from the past (or even the ghostlike forms of white sheets billowing in the wind), just think of the savings. The average family can save $120 a year by drying laundry on a clothesline instead of using an electric dryer…plus you’ll get that fresh, crisp scent that only naturally-dried laundry can provide!

Look on the sunny side:

You likely already know that solar panels are an eco-friendly way to save on long-term energy bills, but the upfront costs may have you diving for the nearest cave. Now there’s a way for California homeowners to reap the benefits of solar panels…and pay zero dollars up front.

How does it work? It’s even simpler than the notion that you can draw energy from that giant ball of fire in the sky. Through a deal known as a power purchase agreement (or PPA), you agree to let a solar energy company install solar panels on your roof. In exchange, you pay your energy bill directly to the solar company and save a whopping 30% per month on your energy bill. For a family home with a pool and central air, can add up to several hundred dollars a month (hellooooo, exotic vacation!).

Horizon Solar Power, a popular choice for homeowners looking to enter into a solar PPA, doesn’t just deliver and install the panels for free…they also offer complementary repairs and maintenance for the lifetime of your agreement (generally 15-25 years). Customers report more than increased energy savings: they say the solar panels have also increased their property value!

Looking to get into a more long-term relationship with solar? Horizon Solar also offers the option to purchase your home’s solar panels (you can save 30% with tax rebates) and save 100% off your energy bill—and awesome option if you’re open to more of an upfront investment that will see even more long-term savings.

To learn more about PPAs and see if you’re eligible for a free or rebated solar panel installation on your roof, visit Horizon Solar Power today.

Image Source: WikiCommons By Gray Watson