This post is sponsored by Evergy.
It’s already been a HOT, HOT Kansas City summer and it has only just begun. We all know our energy bills will be higher this time of year. We’ve teamed up with Evergy to give you some tips and tricks for some easy ways you can lower your energy bill and save as much as possible.
Unplug electronics and turn off lights and fans when not in use.
This is an easy chore to give kiddos and can save you up to $100 a year!
Lower your water heater temp.
Water heaters account for about 18% of the energy consumed in your home. If you lower the temperature to 120 degrees, you can save $36-$61 a year.
Use a smart thermostat.
Consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat to pre-cool your home during off peak hours (avoiding 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.) Smart thermostats can keep track of seasons, maintain your programmed schedule more closely, and maximize savings. Others can learn your schedule without being programmed at all and can make suggestions about how you can save energy.
Clean or replace your air filters.
A dirty filter just makes you’re A/C units work harder… and we know Kansas City summer heat makes them work hard enough. Make sure to change them on a regular basis and consider getting a seasonal check up to make sure your system is working optimally. Don’t forget to hose off the unit outside for maximum efficiency!
Rethink summer dinners by using the oven less.
No one wants to turn on a hot oven during the summer, am I right? It only makes your house hotter and requires more energy than smaller appliances. Try using an air fryer or crockpot for quick and easy meals or grill for summertime meals. If you truly do need to use the oven for a recipe – try cooking larger quantities for convenient meals throughout the week and avoid having to turn on the oven often.
Switch out your light bulbs.
Did you know when you switch to energy-efficient lighting, you can light your home using the same amount of light for less money. If you are still using incandescent light bulbs, switching to energy-efficient LED light bulbs will save your household around $225 per year.
Use the delay button on your dishwasher.
Set your dishwasher to run during off-peak hours (avoid the hours of 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.) Make sure your dishwasher is full to maximize energy efficiency.
Reduce dryer usage when doing laundry.
With a family of five, I am constantly doing laundry, which is a large part of energy usage in our home. Did you know the dryer uses more energy than any other appliance? I hang dry most of our clothes and wash mainly with cold water — both are easy ways to save energy. Evergy also suggests doing laundry during off-peak hours: first thing in the morning or late at night or on weekends.
Affordable energy is important to Evergy as it is to all of us. Everyone at Evergy has been working hard across its entire company to reduce costs by 25 percent. When Evergy employees find and create savings, all of us in the Kansas City area benefit. Through this commitment, Evergy has been able to decrease our total energy costs by 3 percent since 2017. And they aren’t stopping there. Evergy employees, who are our KC neighbors and friends, are still working hard every day to find ways to control their costs so they can pass those savings on to us. Learn more about Evergy’s commitment to affordable energy at Evergy.com/KCmoms.
