Pepco is a Washington state-based utility that serves over 400,000 people in and around the greater Seattle area. One of the most essential services provided by the company is electricity, and while it’s always great to enjoy low energy bills, they can be a bit higher when you’re paying for your own energy. Luckily, there are some rather easy ways to bring your energy consumption down without sacrificing your standard of living.
Curb Your Electricity Use During Peak Hours
If you’re using a lot of electricity during peak hours (which are typically defined as 8–10 pm and on Saturday and Sunday), then it’s time for you to start understanding the value of a time-of-day rate. As the name suggests, this tariff applies to electricity used during peak hours, which means you’ll be charged more during these times than other hours. One of the best things about this option is that it allows you to lower your consumption during those hours when you’re not using much. This will, in turn, lower your bill by $0.11–$0.22 per month on average.
To be able to take advantage of this option, you’ll need to contact your service provider and negotiate a new contract. Just remember that while this may sound like a no-brainer, cutting down your energy consumption during peak hours may not be so easy for some people. The main reasons for this are:
- Your appliance may not be energy-efficient, and so cutting down your electricity use may require a complete hardware replacement.
- You may be using a lot of energy when nobody else is around, and so you’ll have to find a way to convince your neighbors to cut down their electricity too.
- Your local distribution utility may not be operating at full capacity, and so you’ll need to call them to increase the supply of electricity.
Reduce Your Water Consumption
You may already be aware that water is quite crucial to our survival; without it, we’d quickly run out of food, clothing, and shelter. While your water consumption may not seem like an energy-related issue at first, reducing the amount you use in your home can have a significant impact on your energy bill. There are various ways to reduce your water consumption in your home, such as installing water-efficient shower heads or fixing leaky faucets and toilets. Knowing where and how our water is being used is the first step to properly reducing it.
To reduce the amount of water used by your home, it’s advisable to consult with your local water supply company and see which appliances and individual fixtures are the greatest culprits. You’ll also need to work with your plumber to fix any issues that may arise from your efforts (hearing loss, for example). Aside from being an environmental hazard, excess water also causes many problems (think about all the dirty dishes and clothes that accumulate over the years!), and so it’s essential that you take the time to reduce it where you can.
Change Your Lightbulbs
Incandescent lightbulbs are one of the biggest energy hogs in our home. They’re affordable, yet they consume a lot of energy, and over time, they deteriorate, becoming more and more inefficient. After a couple of years of increasingly higher electricity bills, I decided to change my lightbulbs to more energy-efficient ones, and so far, I’m absolutely delighted with the results. There is a wide range of energy-efficient bulbs available today, and so it’s quite simple to find one that meets your needs. When shopping for a new lightbulb, make sure that it complies with the energy-efficient standards set by your state utility company.
Consult With A Professional
Cutting down your energy consumption doesn’t necessarily mean replacing or fixing things, it simply means re-evaluating how you’re using electricity and other utilities in your home. For some people, this may mean re-training and educating themselves to use less energy and become more eco-friendly. For others, it may mean hiring some help from an expert who can come up with cost-effective ways to reduce your energy consumption (such as upgrading insulation and weatherizing your home).
Regardless of how you intend on reducing your energy consumption, make sure that you do what’s necessary to make it happen. Don’t expect immediate results – it may take some time for your energy conservation efforts to really pay off. Also, don’t be discouraged if some of your efforts don’t work out as smoothly as you’d like – after all, this is new territory for you, and you’re bound to have some hiccups along the way.