News

Jun 09, 2023

15 Ways To Cut Those Higher Nevada Energy Bills

Weekdays 10:00am - 3:00pm Social January 10th is National Cut Your

Weekdays 10:00am - 3:00pm

Social

January 10th is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day, and this year it couldn't come at a better time. With Nevada energy rates rising to unprecedented rates, we could all use a few tips to help out. If you haven't gotten an energy bill yet this month in Las Vegas, prepare yourself. It's going to look different than last year. In fact, it's going to look different than it did last month. Both NV Energy and Southwest Gas announced yet another hike in rates.

The first hike came this past October, and then another January 1st. Total increase? 20%. The cost of natural fuel is the reason behind the hike. When the utility companies have to pay more for the product, then in turn have to charge more. The good news about that is that when those prices of natural fuel go down, so will our bills. We just have to figure out how to make it until then and pray that day comes sooner rather than later.

For now, we need to get smart about our utility usage. Every year, National Cut Your Energy Costs Day focuses on information designed to help homeowners and business owners. Information involving reducing energy costs and increasing energy efficiency.

One of the most important things to do is to start with a plan. The National Day Calendar suggests starting with things you can do right now, like changing out light bulbs or lowering thermostats. The second part is to make a list of long term things to improve on in the future. Then working slowly toward those goals. Every step gets your home or business closer to total efficiency and lower bills all year long.

We’ve gathered the best ideas from National Day Calendar, Nerdwallet, and other sources to save on your energy bill in 2023. Some you can do today. Let's get a jump on this thing before it gets a jump on us. –Wendy Rush

If you’re the one responsible for paying the utility bill, you’re going to have to start cracking down on people in your house who leave lights on. Remind them enough, and they’ll eventually make it a habit to turn a light off when they leave a room.

Setting your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees while you’re gone or asleep (for at least 8 hours) can lower your annual heating and cooling bills by 10%, on average.

Set your fridge to 38 degrees and your freezer between 0 and 5 (Fahrenheit). Anything lower forces your machine to work harder and use more energy, and your food doesn't need it any lower.

Check the seals on all your windows, doors and on your fridge and freezer. Just a small crack in the seal can let air out and waste energy. Sometimes just some caulking can do the trick, and other times you’ll have to purchase a replacement seal. Both quick fixes with money-saving results.

One of the quickest ways to save on your energy bill is to swap out your incandescent light bulbs for more energy-efficient ones. Nerdwallet says that doing this in just your five most-used lights can save you $75 a year on your bill. Imagine what swapping them all would do! Look for compact fluorescent or LED bulbs that have the Energy Star label.

Leaky ducts can let a lot of hot and cold air escape, raising your energy bills all year long. Check your heating, air conditioning and ventilation ducts and repair any leaks for a more efficient system and a lower power bill.

Electronics, particularly those with a remote control, still use power when they’re off, mostly because they’re in standby mode waiting for your command. Plugging these devices into a smart power strip will cut the circulation of power when the machines aren't powered on.

If you have lighted areas that you don't need full power for, put them on a dimmer switch. Lower levels means you use less power.

Many appliances still use a small bit of power when they are plugged in, even when not in use. Unplug them in between uses and your savings will add up over time.

Heating water is the second-highest power expense in most homes. So it's cost-effective to use less hot water where we can. Usually water heaters are set to 140 degrees. Lowering it to 120 can save 10% on your bill. Lower it even more when you go out of town.

For the same hot water-saving reason, just two minutes less in the shower can show up as a lower energy bill. And replacing your shower head with one donning the WaterSense label will ensure it meets the efficiency criteria set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

If you’re washing underwear, socks, or bedding that has been used by a sick person, hot water washes are most-effective. For almost everything else (unless the fabric specifically mentions hot water), use cold water in the washing machine. It will lower your energy bill significantly by not having to heat that water.

This goes for washing machines and dishwashers alike. Whether you have one item or fifty, the same amount of water is used. So wait until you have a full load to hit that start button.

You can call your energy company and ask for an audit of your home. A pro will come out and assess where your home is losing energy. Sometimes they’ll even provide this service for free. Nevada Energy does provide this service without charging and you can get started now here. They even have free smart thermostats that they’ll install for free by their professionals.

The next time you need to buy a new appliance, look for one with the EnergyStar label. If you want to start on your home's efficiency before you need to, start replacing your appliances that you use most often. Over time, you’ll start to see the savings really add up. Here's another place Nevada Energy might be able to help you out. Their Power Shift program offers these appliances for free to costumers who qualify. Get more info here.

Follow us! Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.