Effective Ways to Lower Your Home Energy Bill

What Uses the Most Energy in Your Home?

Understanding what’s really driving your energy costs is the first step toward lowering your monthly bill. 

In this guide, we’ll break down each major contributor and share simple and advanced strategies to help you save. 

1. We’ll begin with the most substantial contributors to your energy cost.
2. Then we’ll touch on the simple and quick fixes that make small shifts in your usage.
3. And end with additional ways to improve your costs long-term.

Heating and Cooling: 51%

Heating and cooling make up the largest portion of your home energy bill, contributing to over half of a home’s annual energy costs.

Small Thermostat Changes Equal Small Savings

Changing the thermostat 1 degree can save you about 1% on your bill. Savings are minimal unless you’re willing to drastically alter the temperature of your thermostat.

How to Reduce Energy Costs Without Sweating Summers and Frigid Winters

• Apply for available heating and cooling tax credits to make upgrading your units less pricey.
• Plant shade trees around your home to reduce your summer cooling load passively.
• Upgrade your insulation and seal any air leaks.
• Prepare your home for Pennsylvania winters with smart, energy-efficient strategies.
• Regularly maintain your HVAC system to extend its lifetime.

Electronic Appliances & Devices: 21%

Electronics like TVs, game consoles, and computers are responsible for almost a quarter of your home’s energy use—and many continue drawing power even when not in use.

Tips to Cut Down On Home Electronics Energy Waste

• Use sleep mode settings on TVs and computers.
• Unplug chargers, unused kitchen appliances, and other devices when not in use (yes, a charging cord, that’s plugged into the wall and not charging anything, draws energy the entire time it’s plugged into the outlet).
• Consider using smart power strips that detect idle devices and cut power automatically.
• Power down your wifi router overnight.

Pro tip: If you’re heading out of town, read our guide on how to prepare and safeguard your home before a winter or summer vacation and decrease energy costs while you’re away.

Water Heating: 19%

Hot water accounts for nearly 1 in 5 dollars on your energy bill. Showers, dishwashers, and laundry machines are the biggest culprits.

Using a dishwasher to clean dishes is already the best method to save water in the kitchen as it uses less water than handwashing.

Wash clothes in cold water, which can cut energy per load by up to 50%.

Advanced Strategies to Reduce Water Heating Costs

1. Install low-flow showerheads to reduce both water and heating costs.
2. Upgrade to a high-efficiency water heater.

Want to maximize long-term savings? Check if your upgrade qualifies for the Energy-Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit.

Lighting: 5%

Although lighting is a small part of your energy bill, it’s one of the easiest areas to get started reducing your energy costs.

Simple Strategies that Save You Money on the Cost of Lighting:

1. Swapping incandescent bulbs for LEDs can reduce lighting-related energy use by up to 80%. LEDs also last much longer—if you installed LEDs when your child was born, they might not need changing until that child reaches middle school.
2. Install motion sensors to control the lighting as people move in and out of rooms.
3. Set up daylight sensors or light bulb timers to automate your daily usage and adjust the brightness accordingly.

Tip: Consider pairing energy-efficient lighting with a smart home thermostat and create a system that manages your home’s energy more intelligently. We’ll talk more about smart thermostats below.

Refrigeration: 3%

Refrigerators and freezers run 24/7 in most households, and many homes even have more than one unit. Still, refrigeration typically makes up only 3% of a home’s energy use.

Buying A New Refrigerator Won’t Meaningfully Lower Your Energy Bill

While upgrading your fridge to an ENERGY STAR model may offer long-term savings and valuable sustainability benefits, that change alone won’t drastically cut your energy bill. 

Consider upgrading only if the unit is:

1. Too small for your needs.
2. Leaking.
3. No longer keeps things fresh.

If you’re prioritizing energy-saving upgrades, your dollars may be better spent elsewhere.

Simpler Ways to Impact Your Refrigerator’s Energy Usage

• Avoid overloading the unit or keeping the door ajar for extended periods of time. This wears down the motor and increases the energy needed to keep your perishables cold.
• Don’t skip regular maintenance and adhere to best practices. Keeping the coils clean and all of the vents clear is the best way to protect the lifespan of this appliance.

More Ways to Lower Your Annual Energy Bill

HVAC Maintenance System

Since HVAC systems require 51% of your annual energy usage, routine HVAC maintenance is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to bring down your long-term costs.

Before peak heating or cooling seasons, schedule a professional attic air conditioner inspection or heating system tune-up.

Regular HVAC Maintenance Will:

• Prevent costly breakdowns
• Ensure optimal efficiency
• Extend your system’s lifespan

It’s also the perfect time to consider whether your current setup is serving you well—or if it’s time for an HVAC upgrade (keep reading about that below).

Not sure what’s best for your home and budget? Get in touch for answers and  find the right system for your home.

Install a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats can save you 10-15% savings on your HVAC-related costs. They adapt to your schedule and automatically adjust the heating and cooling based on your current occupancy and temperature preferences. 

Rebate bonuses: Many energy providers offer straightforward rebates for smart thermostat installation, so it’s a win-win.

Looking for more customization? Consider pairing smart thermostats with whole-home air purifiers and improve your indoor air quality while providing lasting savings and comfort.

Invest in a SPAN Smart Circuit Panel

If you want real-time insights into your home’s energy use, a smart circuit panel is the future of home energy management.

RSC Heating & Air Conditioning is proud to be Lancaster County’s only certified installer of the SPAN smart circuit panel.

Why a SPAN Smart Circuit Panel is a Lucrative Investment

1. The data it provides allows you to cut your monthly bill by up to 15%.
2. It is simple to install and light on labor. There’s no need to start from scratch or rewire your whole panel, SPAN installation retrofits right on top of your current one.
3. You can monitor your energy use on a circuit to circuit basis.
4. It identifies any undetected power hogs.
5. It supports electric vehicle charging, solar energy integration, and future smart home expansion.
6. For homeowners considering geothermal energy or planning green upgrades, SPAN is the ideal foundation for a smarter, more sustainable home.

These insightful features make it the most dynamic way to control your home’s annual energy expenditure.

Upgrading Your Heating and Cooling System

Sometimes, maintenance isn’t enough, especially if your system is outdated or struggling to keep up.

Whether you’re trying to decide if you need to repair or replace your heat pump or are dealing with an emergency HVAC breakdown- 

RSC Heating and Cooling is on your side with 35 years of experience, strategies, and resources. We’re dedicated to making your investment count and avoiding any unnecessary costs.

Read our case study about a Lancaster residence’s HVAC success.

Heating and Cooling System Options

• We specialize in installing world-class Carrier HVAC systems, and we’ve been named a 13-time Carrier Presidential Award winner for our customer service and expertise.

• Not sure if the Carrier system is right for you? We break it down in our blog comparing Carrier vs. Trane HVAC systems.
  
• Are you ready to switch to a greener, more eco-friendly (and more efficient) HVAC system? You’ve got options and we are here to help make your choice simple.

Need help financing your new system? 

Ask us about our 0% APR HVAC financing. Available through Wells Fargo, for new qualifying Carrier installations.

Long-Term Strategies for Lowering Your Home’s Energy Bill:

1. Take small steps today to build good energy habits—like unplugging idle device cords from the wall or washing your laundry with cold water.
2. Automate your seasonal maintenance.
3. Identify which larger investments will transform your home’s comfort and energy efficiency.

Did you know that the federal government offers tax credits for upgrading to more energy-efficient systems? These tax credits can be used to help pay for a system, and additional energy improvements can also be covered each year until 2033.

Next Steps for a Customized Energy Solution:

Schedule a Free Home Energy Evaluation with RSC Heating & Air Conditioning today.

You’ll receive:

• Efficiency upgrade recommendations that are based on your needs.
• A quote for system maintenance or needed installations.
• An honest and professional perspective about how to move forward.

Not looking for another appliance salesman? Our business runs on quality references, not one-off sales. 

We’ve been focused on educating homeowners and businesses about how to make the best of their heating and cooling situation in the Susquehannah Valley for over thirty years.

Request HVAC Estimate