Electrical bills can quickly eat into your household budget. The typical modern family uses computers, climate control, lights, entertainment centers, and other home devices.

The costs can feel as if they’re getting out of hand, as more people, tools, and toys in your home contribute to power usage. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average American spent about $107 a month on the electric bill in 2012.

So what can you and your family do to cut down the costs? Consider some of the best practices you can work into your daily routine to cut down on consumption. You might also look at home additions you can invest in to decrease your electricity bill.

Home automation

How often do you leave the house and forget to turn off the lights? Or your heating and cooling system?

These items can contribute significantly to your power bill, especially if they’re left on for long periods of time while you’re at work and school. Investing in a mobile home automation system can help you save money by giving you control over home appliances.

Not sure whether you’ve switched the lights off? You can just check their status via your mobile phone, and turn them off. There are even wall adapters that can be linked to these automation systems, so you can remotely control any device that’s plugged into a wall socket.

One of the most interesting aspects about home automation is that you can even set electronics to switch on or off using timers. For instance, you might want your lights to switch on automatically at sundown, for greater visibility and security.

Home automation systems make it easy for you to set recurring events and take those worries off your mind.

Energy-efficient appliances

If you need to replace or purchase a new appliance for your home, learn how to identify energy-efficient devices. The Energy Star logo is a common indicator that an appliance meets certain standards for lower energy consumption and reduced pollution.

The Energy Star program was established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in an effort to help consumers make purchasing decisions that are safer for the planet’s resources.

You’ll also want to purchase home appliances that carry little to no risk of pollution or poisoning. For example, kitchen appliances that contain Bisphenol A (BPA) might put your family at risk.

This chemical compound has been linked to problems with pregnancy and newborn health and may be a carcinogen. That’s why you’ll find blenders and other home appliances that carry the label “BPA free.”

It’s crucial know about common issues and warnings before you commit to an appliance purchase.

Solar power

Solar energy is a renewable resource. Solar panels that collect solar power will involve high initial buy-in costs that might give you pause, but they can significantly reduce your electricity bill in the long run and potentially earn tax credits as well.

One of the major components you’ll want to examine during the purchase and installation of solar panels is the power inverter equipment: The efficiency of this piece will translate directly to the ROI of your solar panel system.

Daily habits

You can significantly reduce your home electricity bill through basic behavior conditioning. Do you or your family members leave lights and climate control on, even when a room is not in use?

Honestly, this unnecessary consumption could be adding dozens of extra dollars to your electricity bill. Older entertainment equipment typically has a higher power draw than newer machinery, so you might want to look into replacing an old school television with one that features greater power efficiency like this Supersonic 32 in D LED widescreen hdtv.

Leaving appliances on while you’re out of the house is not only wasteful, but it can be dangerous too. For example, heaters left on unattended can be a significant fire hazard. In addition, you should also consider having regular residential hvac maintenance services for your hvac unit to stay in great condition.

If you find that these forgetful habits are too hard to break, consider investing in a home automation system that enables you to check the status of your home remotely and take control of your power consumption.

Increased natural lighting

Do you keep the lights on throughout the day? Have you considered finding more ways to let natural light into your home environment?

This can also cut down on hours of power consumption. Home upgrades such as custom window shutters can give you greater control over how much light gets into a room, and that can dramatically change the mood of it. Don’t get stuck with harsh, buzzing fluorescents; take advantage of your window placement and learn how to work in spaces that are lit naturally.

These are not the only ways you can reduce your household electricity bill. Identify the months when your bill spikes or drops, and try to find out which appliances and behaviors cause the greatest drain on your pocketbook.

Invest in home improvements that will contribute to your energy efficiency over the long run.