As of mid-September, residential electricity prices are up 5.2% compared to last year. Extreme weather events, a surge in energy-hungry data centers, infrastructure updates, and policy decisions that kneecap clean energy solutions are among the main culprits driving the demand—but it’s the customers paying the price. According to a tally from the Center for American Progress, both electric and natural gas bills are trending the wrong way in at least 41 states and Washington, D.C. That’s roughly 81 million electricity customers and 28 million natural gas customers staring down ballooning utility bills.
The average U.S. home uses about 10,791 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and around 74 million BTUs of natural gas—amounts that can shrink if you adopt a few new habits. Did you know, for example, that using cold water can cut your washer’s energy spend by up to 90%? Or that by air drying your clothes a few times a week you can nix around 4% of your home’s draw a year? These things add up.
Is it frustrating to cut back while energy-hungry data centers run 24/7? Does it suck to feel pressure to conserve while others hoover up resources? Yes and yes. But cutting household energy use is also good for the planet. It represents as much as 20% of greenhouse gases in the U.S., which means dialing back is one of the biggest places a person can chip in. And doing so doesn’t only mean big expensive upgrades like solar panels and heat pumps, or even mid-price ones like window film or air sealing.
We’ve rounded up nine simple changes that cost nothing to implement. No gadgets. No upgrades. Just better habits that can help you ease the strain on the grid, the planet, and your bank account.
1. Cool down your laundry routine
Your washer and dryer are two of the biggest energy users in a household—the dryer alone accounts for up to 4.3% of a home’s electricity consumption. But they don’t have to be. To start, always wash full loads in cold water. Heating up H2O accounts for as much as 90% of your washer’s energy use. (Before you ask, yes, most modern detergents clean just as well in cool water.) Air-drying a few days a week also adds up quickly: cutting dryer use in half could save nearly 500 kWh per year. Beyond that, it’s about good habits that inch up efficiency, such as sorting by fabric weight, because heavy things like towels slow everything down.
2. Prioritize smaller appliances
Reheating leftovers in the oven is like having Shohei Ohtani pinch hit for your kid’s little league team: Overkill. A microwave uses up to 80% less energy than a full-sized oven. In general, smaller tasks call for smaller appliances. Toaster ovens, air fryers, and slow cookers are all efficient alternatives to firing up the full-size oven or range. This advice applies to the stovetop, too: Match pots to burner size; a small pan on a large burner can waste more than 40% of that precious heat.
3. Rethink how you run the dishwasher
Dishwashers are more efficient than hand washing—if you use them right. The biggest swing? Skip heated dry. According to some estimates, it can add 30 minutes to the runtime and account for at least 15% of the dishwasher’s energy use. Crack the door open to air-dry instead. Remember, heating water is also one of a home’s top overall power hogs, so making sure you set up your dishwashing robot for success by loading it completely and correctly will also cut down on wasted water and energy.
4. Put an end to phantom power
Even when “off,” plenty of devices still draw power. TVs, video game systems, printers, and chargers are among the worst offenders. Known as standby or vampire power, this slow drain can account for as much as 10% of a home’s electricity use. The solution? Unplug devices when you’re not using them. If you have a smart plug or power strip, that’s an easy way to cut power to a bunch of devices at once.
5. Dial in your thermostat
More than 40% of a home’s electrons go to heating and cooling, and keeping things toasty is the single largest energy draw overall. That means small changes can make a big impact. For instance, if you tick your thermostat down one or two degrees in winter (or up it in summer) you can cut up to 3% off your bill per degree. Smaller changes help too: Make sure your HVAC vent’s clear (blocked airflow forces your system to work harder) and set any ceiling fans in the proper direction (counterclockwise in summer to push cool air down; clockwise in winter to circulate warm air).
6. Shift big tasks to off-peak hours
Some utility companies offer time-of-use rates, where electricity is less expensive during periods when fewer people are drawing power. Costs tend to be cheapest late at night or early morning—and most expensive in the late afternoon and evening. Run appliances like dishwashers or dryers then to take advantage.
7. Watch your water use
Water heating is the second-largest energy drain in most homes. Shortening your showers by a minute could save energy—and about 75 gallons a month. Cutting back on hot H2O is also one way to make hand-washing dishes more efficient if you prefer to skip (or don’t have) a dishwasher: Scrubbing using a two-basin method (dishes are soaked and scrubbed in hot water in one vessel and then rinsed in cold water in another) results in the lowest footprint.
8. Insulate with what you have
Air-sealing your home is a top recommendation from efficiency experts, but a full-blown overhaul can cost thousands. No extra scratch to call in the pros? No problem. Use rolled-up towels, old t-shirts, or blankets to block drafts around windows and under doors. Have a tube of caulk lying around? A bit of sealing can help keep temperatures stable—and gives your HVAC a break.
9. Make ice the old-fashioned way
If your fridge has an automatic ice maker, turn it off and make your cubes in regular old trays. Refrigeration and freezing account for about 7% of the average abode’s electricity use, and icemakers can hog 12% or more of what a chiller uses. Other good habits—like cleaning the condenser coils and checking the door’s seal—are always a smart idea, too.