One of the costlier bills you may have in your home is for electricity. We all need lights, refrigerators, computers, and we use electricity to power all these devices daily. If you feel like you are spending too much on your electric bill, there are some things you can do to lower it. Check out these energy-saving ideas and see if you can implement them in your household.

• Get an energy audit

Most electric providers will conduct an energy audit of your home free of charge. Call them up and ask for one. The audit may reveal several areas where you can save on your electric bill.

• Install ceiling fans

In the warmer months, you can help your air conditioning system by using ceiling fans. The fans will help circulate cool air throughout your house. The air conditioner will not have to work as hard.

• Keep your refrigerator and freezer full

We all know that we should not keep our refrigerator and freezer doors open for long periods. We can also help their efficiency by keeping them full. Food acts as an insulator and reduces the amount of time that the fridge or freezer must run to stay cold.

• Eliminate phantom electricity

Many homeowners are likely unaware that unused electronics devices are responsible for upwards of 75 percent of the energy used in the house. Televisions, computers, kitchen appliances, and cell phone chargers all use electricity even when idle. A simple solution is to plug all these items into a power strip and turn the strip off when not in use.

• Switch to LED lights

An LED light bulb uses 90 percent less energy than the traditional incandescent bulb. They also last longer. Replace all the light bulbs in your home with LEDs.

• Lower your water heater’s temperature

Roughly 15 percent of the electricity in any given household is used to heat water. You can reduce this by lowering the temperature on your water heater. In most homes, people never review the temperature on the water heater’s thermostat.

• Clean your filters regularly

Your HVAC system has filters that need to be checked and replaced on a regular basis. Dirty filters cause your HVAC system to operate less efficiently. When they do so, your electric bill rises.

You might also choose to have your HVAC system inspected and cleaned each year. To help pay for an inspection and cleaning, consider a car title loan from Embassy Loans. If you own a vehicle, you can take out a short-term loan that is repaid very quickly to ensure that your HVAC system is running efficiently.