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Utilities are one of the few bills you can cut this week without calling anyone or canceling anything — and the savings repeat every single month afterward.
Các bước thực hiện
Work the thermostat hardest
Set a schedule: cooler while asleep and away in winter, warmer in summer. A 7-10°F setback for 8 hours a day saves up to about 10% per the DOE. A $25 programmable thermostat does it without your memory involved.
Turn the water heater down to 120°F
Water heating is a large share of home energy. 120°F is the DOE-suggested setting for most homes — safer, and it stops paying to keep unused water extra hot.
Wash cold, dry smart
Most washer energy heats water; cold cycles clean modern detergents fine. Clean the dryer lint screen every load, and hang-dry what you can.
Swap the five most-used bulbs to LED
LEDs use at least 75% less energy than incandescents and last years longer. Start with the kitchen and living room, not the closet.
Kill phantom loads
TVs, consoles and chargers draw power while off. One switching power strip in the entertainment corner ends it.
If the bill is a hardship, say so
Call the utility and ask for a payment plan and their hardship programs before the due date. Then check LIHEAP — federal help with energy bills through your state — and dial 211 for local funds.
Worked example: $180/month bill
Những sai lầm thường gặp
- Buying gadgets before changing settings. The free thermostat schedule outsaves most purchases.
- Cranking the thermostat far past the target to 'heat faster.' It doesn't — it just overshoots.
- Ignoring the bill until shutoff. Payment plans and LIHEAP both work best early.
- Assuming assistance isn't for you. Eligibility depends on income and household size — checking is free.
Bước tiếp theo cần làm
Set the thermostat schedule tonight, then check whether you may qualify for LIHEAP or your utility's own assistance — links on our Utilities help page.
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Nguồn tham khảo
DOE — Programmable thermostats (savings estimate) · DOE — LED lighting · DOE — Water heating: 120°F · HHS — LIHEAP