7 Ways To Save On Utility Bills in 2025
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Jordan Rosenfeld
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Molly Sullivan
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After a long stretch of steep energy prices, consumers may be about to experience some relief in 2025 and beyond. While energy prices appear to be coming down, the best way to reap energy savings is to be proactive in your life and home.
Simple changes can help you capitalize on lower energy prices, leading to some of the lowest bills you may see in years.
Mike Naughton, CEO and founder of Integrity Energy, offered some tips to save the most on your energy bills in 2025.
Conduct an Energy Audit
To make the most of lower energy prices, it’s essential to increase your home’s energy efficiency. If you’re not sure how to get started, consider conducting an energy audit for your home.
“Energy audits are a thorough investigation of the interior and exterior of your home to identify opportunities to reduce energy use and improve efficiency,” Naughton said.
Additionally, many utility companies offer low-cost auditing services to help improve your home, he added.
“At the end of your assessment, your auditor provides a comprehensive report with recommendations to improve your home’s energy performance and reduce costs.”
Improve Insulation and Seal Air Leaks
Naughton pointed out that according to the Department of Energy, about 30% of the energy your home consumes is wasted due to inefficiencies.
“Much of that energy waste is due to insufficient insulation or cracks and gaps throughout your home.”
To reduce energy loss, he recommended improving the insulation in exterior walls, basements and attics. Additionally, you should seal gaps, cracks and other blemishes around windows, doors, corners and ceilings to better retain heat. Sealing air leaks can be a weekend DIY project, using weatherstripping, joint compound or caulk.
Install a Smart Thermostat
You can also reinvest some of your initial savings on lower energy prices by installing a smart, programmable thermostat, Naughton said. This can potentially help your household save $180 per year in energy expenses, he said.
“Smart thermostats enable you to program temperature setbacks that align with your household routine,” he explained. “When your home is unoccupied, the thermostat will lower temperatures automatically.”
You can even set the heating to turn on 30 minutes before everyone arrives home, so you’re welcomed with a cozy space.
Upgrade Lighting
If you’re still relying on old, energy-wasting incandescent bulbs, you’re paying too much for your lighting. Upgrading to highly efficient LED lighting is a low-cost way to make a big difference in your energy bills, Naughton said.
” LEDs are up to 90% more efficient and last 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lightbulbs,” he said.
Due to their efficiency, each LED lightbulb only costs about $1.26 per year to operate, whereas a comparable halogen lightbulb costs $6.02 per year or more to operate, he said.
“Not only are you saving a significant amount of energy and money, but you don’t have to replace LED lightbulbs as frequently, saving precious time as well.”
Avoid Peak Demand Periods
It’s not surprising that energy rates get more expensive during periods of higher electricity demand, Naughton said. Those pockets of time, called “peak periods,” typically occur in the late afternoon and early evening, when everyone arrives home from school and work.
Doing energy-intensive chores like laundry or running the dishwasher during these periods can lead to much higher energy bills.
“Instead, opt to use energy-intensive appliances after your utility company’s peak period ends to receive a lower energy rate,” he said.
Off-peak periods are often during midday and late in the evening, when demand for energy is lower. However, peak periods vary by utility company, geographic location and climate, so contact your specific utility company for additional information.
Air-Dry Laundry
Whenever possible, air-dry your clothing to save energy and preserve more delicate fabrics, Naughton recommended.
“Air-drying prevents garments from shrinking and avoids the high energy consumption of your dryer. You can invest in laundry racks indoors or string up a line outside if the weather is nice.”
Air-drying clothes can also help you save between $256 to $590 in energy bills each year, he said — money you could save or invest instead.
If you live in a dry area, you get the added bonus that air-drying your clothing indoors can add some much-needed humidity to your home, Naughton said.
Invest In Smart Plugs
Many appliances and small devices around your home will consume energy even if they aren’t actively being used, Naughton said.
“Often called energy vampires, they drain electricity and lead to expensive energy bills.”
Thus, simple practices, like turning off lights and devices when you leave a room are a first step, but pay special attention to devices such as computers, televisions, video game consoles, phone chargers, microwaves and even your coffee maker. Unplugging these items, instead of leaving them on standby, can help save between $100-$200 per year in energy expenses.
Even adopting just a couple of these habits, paired with decreasing energy costs, could make 2025 a big year to save.
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