Simple Hacks I Used to Cut Our Energy Bill by 25%

Did you know you can get a free energy assessment for your home? Because I sure didn’t!

During the brutal winter of 2025, I was determined to slash our utility bills as part of my savings goal. After watching our energy bill creep higher each month, I did some digging and discovered that Pepco offers free energy audits—and let me tell you, it was a total game-changer!

Here’s what worked for us:

1) Get a Free Energy Assessment

The biggest thing I gained from our energy audit? Awareness—lots of it!

I used to think energy savings were just about the basics: turning off lights, switching to LEDs, and adjusting the thermostat. But there’s so much more to it! I had no idea our utility company even offered this service, and I’m so glad we took advantage of it. Whether you rent or own, this simple step can help you cut costs and make your home more energy-efficient.

🔎 What They Did During Our Audit:

• Gave us free power strips – Some electronics keep using energy even when they’re off! The expert explained how power strips can stop this “phantom” energy use.

• Checked our water heater – Turns out, we were overheating water and wasting energy without even realizing it. I never thought about how much that impacted our bill!

• Shared smart heating & cooling tips – Small thermostat tweaks make a big difference.

• Checked our windows for leaks – Even tiny gaps let cold air in, making the heater work harder.

• Recommended upgrading our thermostat – A digital thermostat makes it easier to control heating and cooling, but since we live in an apartment, this wasn’t an option for us. However, homeowners can benefit greatly from this upgrade for free, if they don't have it already!

They also offer paid audits with even deeper insights, but honestly, the free one was eye-opening enough to help us slash our energy bill!

💡 If you haven’t done this yet, I highly recommend it. You might be surprised where your money is going!

2) Use Power Strips for Electronics

3) Adjust Your Thermostat—Without the Family Revolt!

💡 Bonus Tip: The Simple Laundry Hack That Saves Money and Protects Your Clothes

Did you know that washing your laundry in cold water not only saves energy but also helps your clothes last longer? Most of the energy used in laundry goes toward heating water, so making the switch to cold can lower your utility bills—without sacrificing cleanliness.

Plus, hot water is tough on fabrics—it fades colors, weakens fibers, and shortens the lifespan of your favorite pieces. That’s why I stick to cold water for everyday loads and only use hot when absolutely necessary (like for bedding or heavily soiled clothes).

It’s such a small change, but the benefits add up: lower energy costs, longer-lasting clothes, and a smaller environmental footprint. Win-win!

Key Takeaway

My point is: you don’t need to make drastic lifestyle changes to see real savings. Simply managing what you already have more efficiently—and getting your household on board—can lead to lower bills without sacrificing comfort.

And please remember, you don’t have to do every saving option you find online all at once! Just pick one small change and apply it at your own pace. Small tweaks add up over time. Like with anything, consistency is the name of the game! 💡💰✨

📊 Tip: Check your energy bill before making changes, then compare it after one billing cycle—you’ll see the difference! That’s when I really saw the fruits of my efforts. So don’t get discouraged within one billing cycle! You might get a surprised decline on the next one

Would you try any of these? Let me know in the comments! 👇