Two expenses you can always count on monthly are the water and energy bills. And unless you want to live in the dark ages, they must be paid, no matter what condition your finances are in.
Average Energy Usage
The average household surface area in the United States is 1,118 square feet and has about 2.3 occupants, according to EcoFlow. The average electricity bill for households is about $115 per month. But this figure varies by state.For example, according to EcoFlow, in 2023, Florida’s average monthly electric bill was $168.35, whereas Wyoming’s was $99.24. It all depends on what the price of a kilowatt hour (kWh) is in your state.
HVAC Ducts Can Cost Money
According to Popular Mechanics, 40 percent of the air from both cold and hot rooms escapes through joints, seams, and gaps in air ducts. The cause is poorly applied tape.To stop this, patch holes with aluminum tape. You can also seal duct joints with mastic, which is a paint-on putty. If the gap is more than a quarter inch, apply webbed drywall tape over it before applying the mastic.
Strategically Use Blinds and Drapes
Blinds can do more than make your house lovelier. They can also save you money on heating and cooling costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), about 30 percent of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows.The DOE recommends insulated cellular shades, which have the highest R-values of all window coverings. R-values measure a material’s ability to resist heat flow.
Tightly installed cellular shades can reduce heat loss through windows by 40 percent. This equates to about 10 percent heating energy savings. Cellular shades can reduce solar heat in the warmer months by up to 60 percent.
Purchase Programmable or Smart Thermostat
For every degree you set your thermostat below the usual temperature, you save an additional 2 percent on utility charges. Maximize savings with a programmable or smart thermostat.Water Bill Increases
Water and sewage bills have been increasing. According to the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the combined water and sewer bill for a typical U.S. household went up by 56 percent between 2012 and 2023. That was a 4.2 percent annual increase, reaching an average of $121.77 total per month.Start Saving Money With a Newer Toilet
According to the EPA, the average family can save 13,000 gallons of water and $130 in water costs by replacing old, inefficient toilets.A toilet before 1992 usually uses between three and seven gallons of water per flush, depending on the model, according to Lowe’s.
Since 1992, federal law has set 1.6 gallons per flush (GPF) as the maximum flush rate for new toilets. The lower the flush rate, the more efficiently the toilet uses water. Flush rates can go as low as 0.8 GPF.
How You Wash Dishes Can Save Money
Today’s dishwashers are made to conserve water. According to Eccos, the older models used 10–15 gallons of water. In 2013, the dishwasher industry adopted standards limiting the amount of water a dishwasher could use to five gallons per load. But today’s Energy Star models use as little as three gallons per dishwasher load.And for those who run their dishwasher immediately after loading, skip the pre-clean rinse in the sink. By rinsing first, you waste up to 20 gallons of water.
Do Some Planning and Save Money on Utilities
These are a few things you can do to lower your utility bills. On an individual basis, they may not seem like much, but as a whole, they add up to a lot of money.The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. NTD does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. NTD holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
From The Epoch Times