How to save money on your electric bill during COVID-19

Since the beginning of 2020, you’re probably spending more time at home than usual. With COVID-19, you are now using more energy by running your A/C, TVs, Household Appliances, gaming consoles, and computers. Consequently, electricity bills have skyrocketed. So how can you reduce your electricity bills during COVID-19? At Forme Solar, we are here to help you find ways to reduce your monthly electricity costs. Let’s explore ways you could lower your electric bill during COVID-19 with solar panels for your home. 

Which Appliances Use the Most Electricity?

The first step to lowering your electricity costs during COVID-19 is to examine the top electricity-consuming appliances in your home. What impacts your electricity bill the most? When you’re looking to reduce your electricity costs, it is essential to know which machines contribute the most to your energy consumption. When you pay your electricity bills, what appliances are you primarily paying for? 

HVAC: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning

Based on the government agency, US EIA (Energy Information Administration), nearly 33% of residential electricity consumption is caused by heating and cooling your home. Space heaters can be tremendously beneficial in saving you from having to heat your entire home, but they consume a tremendous amount of electricity per hour. 

Heating the Water in your Home

For most homeowners, heating your water is one of the largest consumers of electricity. Water heating is used for everything from your showers, washing your clothes, and running your dishwasher. 

Non-Energy Efficiency Lighting

Lighting accounts for roughly an additional 6 percent of total residential electricity consumption. However, with compact fluorescent lighting or CFL and LED lights, the humble regular fluorescent bulb has been replaced. The newer CFL lights are now more efficient than, the older bulbs and last longer.

Less Electricity Consumption Than You Think

One of the main concerns of many homeowners is how much electricity is being wasted in the home. It is also essential to know which appliances don’t consume a lot of electricity. The following are the top three appliances in your home that most homeowners believe consume a tremendous amount of electricity but don't:

1. Computers, laptops, and similar electronic devices
2. LCD Televisions
3. Dishwashers and Clothes Washers

Lower Your Electricity Costs - Get Solar Today

With how COVID-19 has changed life as we know it, the way we view our home energy consumption must change. Now that we have found some of the largest electricity consumers, here are (3) three ways that you can substantially lower your power bill during COVID-19. Read about ways to do an energy audit to reduce your home energy costs. 

3 Ways to Lower Your Electricity Bill During COVID-19

1. Reduce your Electricity Costs with Solar Panels

By adding solar panels to your home, you and your family will be able to reduce your electricity costs. Solar panels take radiation from the sun and convert it into usable energy for your home. There is a reason why the government is heavily subsidizing the cost of solar energy. They believe it to be more efficient and less expensive electricity to power your home. 

2. Avoid Time-of-Use Charges with a Solar Battery 

By adding a solar battery to your solar panel system, you can gain independence from the grid and avoid Time-of-Use-Charges (TOU). A solar battery allows you to store excess power that you generate from your solar panel system. You would tap into the battery when your solar panels aren’t generating power, like during the evening. Utility rates on Time-of-Use plans mean that your electricity costs are more expensive during the evening hours. Typically, the hours are between 4pm - 9pm or 5pm - 10pm. This is when homeowners are home, using the most amount of electricity. By adding a solar battery, you can minimize your Time-of-Use charges by tapping into your solar battery during the evening hours. 

3. A Quite Cool Idea, the QuiteCool Whole House Fan

Running your air conditioning can get extremely expensive. It is the single most significant contributor to your electricity bills. Whole house fans are efficient at a fraction of the cost to run your air conditioning. Each hour that you use your Whole House Fan will help you avoid running your air conditioner. 

When you are outside at night, you will notice that the outside air is significantly more relaxed than the air inside your home. This is because the heat from the sun and your daily household appliances contribute to your house's temperature. By opening up your windows and allowing your whole house fan to draw in the cooler outside air, it will enable you to live at home more comfortably without having to turn on your air conditioner. 

At Forme Solar, Our Goal is to Help You Lower Electricity Costs

We help our customers explore different options to help reduce their financial liability. Request a free solar panel quote today to see how you could lower your electricity costs. Our experienced technicians at Forme Solar are here to serve you!