9 Best Ways to Save Electricity at Home

Saving electricity at home is easier than you think, and it can make a big difference for both your wallet and the planet. 

Simple changes, like switching to LED bulbs, unplugging devices, or optimizing your heating and cooling, can cut costs and reduce energy waste. Read on to discover nine smart ways to save power every day.

• Switch to LED Bulbs: Replace incandescent lights with LEDs to cut energy use and lower your electricity bill.
  
  

• Stop Phantom Power: Unplug devices or use smart plugs to prevent standby electricity waste.
  
  

• Optimize Heating & Cooling: Adjust thermostats, maintain HVAC systems, and seal leaks to reduce energy costs.
  
  

• Upgrade Appliances: Choose ENERGY STAR or high-efficiency models to save electricity and reduce your carbon footprint.
  
  

• Use Natural Light & Smart Habits: Rely on daylight, wash clothes in cold water, and track energy use to spot and reduce waste.

Switching to LED bulbs is one of the easiest ways to save electricity at home. The US Department of Energy highlights that residential LEDs, especially ENERGY STAR-rated ones, use at least 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and can last up to 25 times longer. 

This means that by 2035, widespread LED adoption could save enough energy to power over 92 large power plants annually.

Research from Economic Analysis and Policy shows that households can cut their lighting costs by 2.3%–2.8% simply by installing LEDs, with middle-income families seeing even greater benefits. 

Government studies further estimate that U.S. energy savings from LEDs in 2018 alone reached 1.3 quadrillion Btu, equivalent to $14.7 billion in consumer savings. 

Beyond cost, LEDs also dramatically reduce carbon emissions, replacing a single incandescent bulb with an LED can lower annual CO₂ emissions from 4,500 lbs. to just 451 lbs. 

Small changes like these not only save money but also have a meaningful impact on the environment.

Many of us think that turning off our devices stops them from using electricity, but that’s not the case. 

According to Natural Resources Canada, even when devices are “off,” they can draw power, sometimes as little as 0.5 watts, but others like set-top boxes or external power supplies can use over 30 watts. 

This sneaky energy, often called phantom power or vampire energy, can account for up to 10% of a household’s electricity bill.

The biggest culprits are home entertainment and office electronics: TVs, satellite boxes, video game consoles, computers, and printers all quietly sip electricity while in standby mode.

Unplugging these devices, or using smart plugs, can seem small, saving maybe a few dollars per appliance, but across a typical home, this can add up to $100–$200 a year.

Beyond money, it also impacts the planet. Research shows that phantom energy contributes significantly to carbon emissions, with 100 billion kilowatt-hours producing roughly 80 million tons of CO₂ annually, about the same as emissions from 15 million cars. Small changes make a big difference.

Many of the electronics in your home continue to draw power even when you’re not using them. 

TVs, for example, often use 5–10 watts in standby mode, while game consoles and desktop computers consume 1–8 watts and 3–6 watts, respectively. 

This “phantom load,” also called “vampire power,” can quietly add up, Citizens Utility Board reports that roughly 10% of household energy costs come from these idle devices, totaling about $200 per year per home. 

The biggest culprits are often digital cable or satellite boxes with DVRs, which stay on constantly to update program guides or record shows. 

One simple way to combat this wasted energy is by using smart power strips. These clever devices detect when electronics are not in use and automatically shut off power, helping households save up to $84 annually. 

Even the U.S. Department of Energy recommends advanced power strips as an effective method to reduce vampire loads and make your home more energy-efficient.

Heating and cooling account for roughly 43% of the average household electricity bill, making them the biggest energy users at home. 

By combining proper equipment maintenance with upgrades, insulation, air sealing, and smart thermostat settings, homeowners can cut heating and cooling energy use by 20% to 50%. 

Simply adjusting your thermostat 7°–10°F lower in winter or higher in summer for 8 hours a day can save up to 10% annually, especially in milder climates. 

Smart thermostats take this further, Powering Pacific Northwest notes that they automatically adjust based on usage, helping save money long-term, while ENERGY STAR estimates about an 8% reduction in yearly heating and cooling costs. 

Regular HVAC maintenance also matters: ASHRAE Transactions highlights that dirty filters increase fan energy use, and cleaning or replacing them improves efficiency, particularly for variable-speed systems. 

Finally, improving home insulation and sealing air leaks can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 20%, or 10% of total energy bills, making your home both comfortable and cost-efficient.

Upgrading your home appliances to energy-efficient models is one of the smartest ways to save electricity and reduce bills.

ENERGY STAR-certified appliances, for example, use significantly less power, washing machines can use 20% less energy and 30% less water, while TVs are about 25% more efficient than standard models. 

Major household appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, and clothes dryers are often the biggest electricity users, with air conditioning sometimes accounting for over 40% of energy use in hotter regions. 

By switching to high-efficiency appliances, households can not only lower electricity bills but also reduce their carbon footprint.

For instance, replacing a gas ducted heater with an electric reverse cycle air conditioner can save up to 20 tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime, while upgrading to a heat pump water system can cut around 10 tonnes. 

Small changes, combined with smarter energy habits, make a meaningful impact on both your wallet and the environment, turning everyday appliances into tools for long-term savings and sustainability.

Lighting typically accounts for around 15% of a household’s electricity use, making it a key area to cut energy costs. 

Simply switching from incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient LEDs can save about $225 per year, and choosing ENERGY STAR-certified bulbs ensures maximum savings. 

Another smart strategy is to rely more on natural light. Daylighting can replace 20% to 80% of daytime lighting needs, depending on window placement, building design, climate, and shading. 

Homes with skylights or large, well-oriented windows can see energy reductions of up to 30%, translating into significant annual savings. 

Beyond money, natural light boosts mood, focus, and overall well-being while reducing carbon emissions. 

Turning off unnecessary lights, especially inefficient incandescent ones, also keeps rooms cooler in summer, further cutting energy use. 

By combining smarter lighting choices with strategic use of daylight, homeowners can enjoy a brighter, healthier, and more energy-efficient home.

Washing clothes in cold water can cut energy use by up to 90% and lower your electricity bill. 

Cold water effectively cleans most everyday clothes, especially in front-loading machines. 

Using eco or short cycles further reduces energy and water use, saving money and extending the life of your clothes.

Heated or cooled air can easily escape through cracks, gaps, and leaks in your home, causing older homes to lose about 20–30% of their heat. 

This could cost homeowners anywhere from $250 to over $1,000 annually, depending on the age of the house and type of heating used. 

Common culprits include windows, doors, wall cracks, interior trim, and even ceiling light fixtures. 

Energy Savings At Home highlights that sealing these leaks and adding insulation in attics, basements, and floors over crawl spaces can help homeowners save roughly 15% on heating and cooling, or about 11% on total energy costs. 

Experts like the U.S. Department of Energy suggest using caulk, spray foam, and weather stripping around floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows, and fireplaces to reduce drafts. 

Real-world studies show that sealing leaks can cut heating and cooling energy use by 10–20%, and fixing duct leaks alone may prevent up to 30% of HVAC energy loss. Beyond the savings, your home becomes noticeably more comfortable.

Track your home’s electricity use with smart meters or energy-monitoring devices. Smart plugs and apps can identify high-energy appliances and phantom drains from standby devices. Recognizing usage patterns lets you reduce waste and lower your bills.

Saving electricity at home is not just about lowering your bills, it also helps protect the environment. 

For example, replacing your five most-used light fixtures with ENERGY STAR certified bulbs can save around $40 a year. 

Beyond personal savings, households contribute significantly to global energy use; buildings, including homes, consume a large portion of the world’s energy, highlighting the impact of everyday electricity habits. 

Reducing energy use also means fewer carbon emissions, as residential electricity in the U.S. alone produces 311 million metric tons of CO₂ annually. 

Simple actions like turning off lights or unplugging devices help shrink your home’s carbon footprint. 

Moreover, embracing energy-saving habits supports long-term environmental sustainability. 

Experts from the Natural Resources Defense Council explain that using less energy reduces air and water pollution from power plants and helps protect ecosystems. 

Small, consistent efforts at home can make a meaningful difference, benefiting both your wallet and the planet.