Become a frugal phenom: Saving on your utilities

Bad news: Bills for household essentials are never going away. Good news: You can save money on your utilities by making a few simple adjustments. KSL Homes offers a few suggestions for cutting down costs in your home, leaving you more cash for the good stuff. New mantra: Frugal is fun. 

Get smart

Everyone knows you should turn your thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter. But you can also cut your expenses by adjusting the temperature throughout the day. Are you out of the house for more than four hours at a time? Set the temperature a couple of degrees higher in the summer (and lower in the winter) for all the time you’re away. Need it cooler to fall asleep? Bump the thermostat down a degree or two just for the first two sleep hours. 

To make the most of your utility dollars, invest in a programmable thermostat. You can schedule the entire day, so it won’t matter if — shoes in hand, toast dangling from your lips — you forgot to adjust it as you were running out of the house.

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Big fan

Although a ceiling fan won’t actually cool a room, it circulates the air and cools your body like a breeze does on a hot day. This means you can bump the temperature up a notch and you may not even notice. For every eight hours, each degree of adjustment will save you roughly 1%, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. So, run the fan when you’re in the room, but turn it off when you aren’t. The settee hasn’t learned to appreciate it.

Be cool

Rocky Mountain Power customers in Utah and Idaho may earn an annual bill credit of $30 by enrolling in its Cool Keeper program. When you register, you authorize the utility company to reduce your air conditioner’s output during select days between May 1 and September 30. That could be up to four hours on weekdays — 100 hours total — between 2 and 9 p.m. The AC fan still runs to circulate air, but the unit’s output is about half.

To do this, Rocky Mountain attaches a small device near your outdoor air conditioning unit.The provider said most of its 100,000 participating customers don’t notice the 1 to 4 degree temperature change. If you’re hosting game night and expect things to get heated, you can opt out for the day. And if it doesn’t work out, you can cancel anytime.

If you’re renting and want to enroll in the program, fill out the landlord approval form. 

Turn it down

For zero cost to you, you can save on your utilities by simply lowering the temperature on your water heater. According to energy.gov, water tanks are the second largest energy user in homes. Depending on the size of the unit, you could spend as much as $600 every year just heating water, or about 18 percent of your utility bill. To cut costs, make a few simple changes.

• Turn the thermostat to 120 degrees (most are set at 140)
• Fix leaks
• Insulate hot water lines
• Drain the unit and flush out any mineral deposits annually

If it’s time for a new water heater, choose one that qualifies for a rebate. Dominion Energy will give you $100 or more when you install specific models of gas heaters.

Sleep on it

Another effortless way to spend less monthly is to run the dishwasher while you’re sleeping. Some Utah utility companies have time-based pricing — you’re charged a premium for power used during peak hours (i.e., when everyone is awake). You’ll spend less for every load if you simply wait until you head to bed at night to turn it on.

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Cold case

While you're at it, save money by flipping your washing machine setting to cold. Why? The average load takes 15 to 25 gallons of water. That’s a lot to heat up. Modern detergents are pretty effective in all temperatures, so it’s not necessary to use hot water — or even warm — to sud your duds nowadays. If your germaphobe alarm is going off, you can use warm. But always rinse with cold.

Curtain call

Another free way to save money on your utilities: Use window coverings with a purpose. Windows are among the biggest culprits when it comes to letting air in or out of your home. Fortunately, installing more efficient replacements isn’t the only solution — although it’s probably wise to consider it at some point. For now, during winter open your curtains to let the sun naturally warm your space. In the summer, keep windows covered when the sun will be hitting them directly.

Flush with cash

Utah Water Savers will pay you back for making a few upgrades around your home. That means you get new stuff, you get help paying for it, then you get to keep on saving. If your toilet was made before 1994, you may be wasting nearly 13,000 gallons of water per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That equates to flushing about $140 down the toilet. 

Replace it with a WaterSense-labeled model, and you could get up to $150 from Utah Water Savers. Not only will you get cash back, you’ll be a water saving superhero. Go ahead, put a gold star on your chest.

Fix leaks

Simple toilet leaks can use 180 gallons of water in a single week. Don’t worry, you probably don’t need to call in an expensive plumber. The problem is usually the toilet flapper, a fairly easy fix. Head to your local hardware store for an inexpensive replacement. 

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Star student

If you’re willing to spend a little now, you can spend less for years to come. Invest in Energy Star labeled household appliances, which are designed to reduce water and/or electricity costs. In fact, switching over all your appliances could reduce your annual utilities by 30%, according to energystar.gov. If you’re replacing old ones, you could see even greater savings. In addition, sometimes power and natural gas providers in Utah offer incentives/rebates, so you’re out less money up front. Consider upgrading to more energy efficient models such as:

• Dishwasher 
• Washer
• Dryer
• Refrigerator 
• Water heater (tankless saves 30% more energy than a standard unit)
• LED of CFL light bulbs
• WaterSense shower heads and faucets

Fair weather friend

Not only will your bill go down, you can also get money back when you weatherize your home. Dominion Energy offers rebates when you install new windows, add insulation or seal ducts. Sign up for the Home Energy Plan to learn if your home is eligible.

Being frugal doesn’t take much time or effort, and most projects won’t cost you anything. Save money by simply making a few energy-conscious changes around your home. When you’re ready, update an appliance or two. Doing a few little things can add up to big savings for your pocketbook. Check out KSL Homes for more home ownership tips.