Finding smart and clever ways to save on your monthly expenses can help you with your saving over a period of time. For many households, your hydro or electricity bill is something that can’t be avoided, as almost everything we use today requires electricity to run. From the lights in our homes to our laptops and tablets for getting school work completed, electricity is being used all around us. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t find ways to save on your hydro bill. To help you save on your hydro bill, we outline 5 smart updates you can complete in your home.

1. Track the amount of electricity you consume

The first step to saving on your electricity bill is understanding where your energy is being used so you can focus on the areas you can trim down. Review your past few months hydro bills and look for spikes in usage. There are apps that will help you keep track of how electricity is being used in your home. This way you can reduce the usage from appliances or fixtures that add heavily to your hydro bill.

2. Switch to green energy and install a solar panel system

Green energy is a great way to help protect the earth, but it is also a great way to help manage your monthly expenses. The sun provides a really good alternative to hydro power and can help you save on your electricity bills. By supplementing your own electricity usage with power generated by using solar panels you can significantly reduce your monthly hydro bill. You do not need to convert to full solar, supplementing your usage will show positive results on your hydro bill.

3. Use power-saving electronics

Appliances and small home electronics can be some of the biggest consumers of electricity. Paying attention to energy-saving features on appliances and home electronics can make a big difference in your hydro consumption. Many electronics and appliances can reduce their power consumption or even shut down on their own after periods of non-usage to conserve power.

4. Energy-efficient windows and doors

Energy-efficient windows and doors are a great way to save on the hydro bill for your home. Energy-efficient windows and doors help to reduce your heating and cooling expenses at they eliminate any drafts and heat loss associated with older, less energy-efficient windows and doors. Not only will you HVAC system need to work less to maintain your ideal internal home temperature, you will benefit from a more comfortable environment within your home.

5. Turn off appliances and lights when not in use

This is one of the most commonly advised power-saving and cost-saving methods, and that’s because it is very effective. When lights or appliances are not in use, turn them off. It happens in every home across the country, someone leaves a room to go elsewhere and they forget to turn off the lights. It may not seem like a big deal, but over time the energy consumed to light up a room that is not in use can add up to hundreds of dollars. Utilizing motion sensor light switches or relying on natural light as much as possible will help you save on your hydro bill month in and month out.

Saving on your hydro bill is not extremely difficult, it just takes some effort and planning. Above we shared a mix of techniques that will help you save on your monthly hydro bill, some do not cost any money upfront, whereas others require an initial investment before you can realize the monthly cost savings.