When you think about ways to make your energy bill lower, you probably think about adjusting your thermostat and using your oven and washing machine less. But if you aren’t taking a close look at the energy usage in your bathroom, you are surely spending much more than you need to. Here are six simple ways to cut back on the amount of electricity being used in your bathroom:
1. Remember to Turn Off Running Water
Conserving water is one of the best ways you can save energy in your bathroom. You may not realize it, but in addition to the cost of the actual water, it requires a lot of energy to move the water from the city’s aquifers into your home. And it takes a lot of electricity to heat the water. So turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth, and try to take a shorter shower.
2. Replace the Showerhead
In addition to taking shorter showers, you can greatly reduce your water and energy usage in the bathroom by installing a low-flow showerhead. An average showerhead disperses 2.5 gallons of water every minute, while a low-flow uses less than two. This seemingly small difference adds up to a tremendous amount of water when you multiply the number of people in your household by the length of the showers they take. The best part of all is that you won’t even be able to tell a difference in the water pressure.
3. Repair Leaks on Faucets and Toilets
You would be amazed at how much water is lost through leaky toilets and faucets. By spending a small amount of time repairing these leaks you can save hundreds of gallons of water per week.
4. Upgrade to a Low-Flow Toilet
If your bathroom houses an older toilet, it might be time to upgrade. Older toilets use up to seven whole gallons of water per flush. On the contrary, low-flow toilets use less than two gallons. So you could potentially save yourself five whole gallons per flush (the total amount saved will vary based on your current toilet and which model of low-flow toilet you choose).
5. Reduce the Moisture Content
The bathroom is no stranger to moisture, but if you don’t control it, it can impact everything from the lifespan of your light bulbs to mold growth to your home’s structural integrity. Make sure your bathroom fan is on whenever the shower is running to help mitigate the moisture, and for bonus points, set it up on a timer just in case you forget to turn it off (you don’t want to waste that electricity).
6. Use LED Light Bulbs
Most bathrooms have a lot of light bulbs, but are they all really necessary? First, determine how many of the vanity lights you actually use, and then put LED light bulbs in each of them. As reported by Energy.gov, LED bulbs use 80% less electricity than incandescent bulbs. And if you think you are being energy efficient by using CFLs, they actually use 45% more electricity than LEDs.
These changes may seem small, but when you add them up, it equates to big savings on your energy bill.