As temperatures climb, many households brace for higher monthly bills. Every summer, a fresh crop of advice circulates online promising to slash those costs. Some tips sound too good to be true. Others feel like common sense. We checked in with home energy expert Brandon Young, CEO of Payless Power, and HVAC specialist Lisa Shavers, general manager at Oncourse Home Solutions, to separate fact from fiction. Below, we break down seven popular energy bill tricks and explain whether they actually deliver savings.
Do These Energy Bill Tricks Really Lower Your Costs?
Some energy bill tricks have real merit. Others produce modest results at best. A few can even backfire if applied incorrectly. The key is knowing which ones to prioritize and which to treat as optional bonuses. Let us walk through each strategy one by one.
1. Unplug Devices When Not in Use
It is a common suggestion to unplug your devices when not in use, and Young says there is some truth to it. “Unplugging devices eliminates standby power draw, which can add up over time,” he explains. That standby draw, often called vampire power, accounts for roughly 5 to 10 percent of a typical home’s electricity use, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The average household spends about $100 per year on standby power alone.
Even so, Young cautions that the savings from unplugging are probably smaller than most people hope. A single phone charger left plugged in draws almost nothing. The real gains come from larger electronics — televisions, desktop computers, game consoles, and kitchen appliances with digital displays. If you can consolidate those onto a power strip and flip the switch when you leave the room, you can shave off a modest but real amount. This trick works, but it is not a game-changer. It is worth doing when convenient, especially for gear you use only occasionally.
2. Maximize Your Home’s Circulation
If your home regularly feels hot and stuffy, the instinct is to crank up the fans and drop the thermostat. Shavers instead recommends creating balanced airflow first. “Open doors throughout the home to allow for more even air circulation, helping the system cool rooms efficiently without overcompensating for hot zones,” she says. Closing interior doors traps warm air in specific rooms, forcing the air conditioner to run longer to cool those areas.
You should also check that no furniture, rugs, or clutter block your vents. “Furniture, rugs, or clutter can block air vents, which limits airflow and forces the A/C to work harder,” Shavers adds. A single blocked register can reduce system efficiency by 15 to 25 percent in that zone. Walk through each room during your next cleaning. Move any sofa, bookshelf, or thick rug away from floor vents. This trick costs nothing and works well — especially combined with opening interior doors for cross-ventilation.
3. Maintain Your HVAC System Properly
The biggest and best way to keep costs low during the summer is managing your HVAC system. “Getting an AC tune-up before summer, replacing air filters regularly, and sealing gaps around doors and windows all reduce how hard your system has to work,” Young emphasizes. Shavers agrees: “If airflow is restricted due to clogged filters or blocked vents, the system has to work harder to move air.” A dirty filter can increase energy consumption by 5 to 15 percent.
Shavers suggests a simple pre-summer checklist: replace air filters every one to three months, keep outdoor condenser units free of debris and leaves, seal gaps around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk, and maintain a consistent indoor temperature rather than constantly adjusting the thermostat. An annual professional tune-up typically costs $80–$150 but can improve efficiency by up to 30 percent if the system was running poorly. This trick is the most reliable of the seven — it works every time, and the savings often exceed the upfront investment.
4. Switch to LED Bulbs
This tip is fairly simple and low-cost. If you still use primarily incandescent bulbs, Young says now is the time to change. “LED bulbs use significantly less energy than incandescent ones,” he explains. A typical 60-watt incandescent bulb converted to a 9-watt LED saves about $4.80 per year per bulb, based on average usage of three hours daily. Multiply that across a household of twenty bulbs, and you save nearly $100 annually.
LEDs also last 15 to 25 times longer, reducing replacement costs. You can amplify the savings by using smart bulbs or timers that automatically turn off lights in empty rooms. Energy Star–rated LEDs often pay for themselves within a year. This trick absolutely works and requires almost no effort — simply swap out bulbs as they burn out or replace them all in one afternoon.
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5. Run Appliances at Night (or Off-Peak)
If heat builds up inside your home during the day, Shavers suggests shifting appliance use to off-peak hours, ideally in the evening or early morning. “Cooking with ovens, running dishwashers, and using clothes dryers all generate indoor heat,” she says. “Homeowners can limit heat buildup by cooking early in the morning or using stovetops, microwaves, or outdoor grills.” Laundry and dishwashing are best done in the evening on the hottest days.
Beyond reducing indoor heat, running appliances during off-peak hours can lower your bill if your utility uses time-of-use pricing. Many power companies charge more per kilowatt-hour between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. on summer weekdays. A typical family might save $50–$150 per year just by shifting a few loads. Even without time-of-use rates, the cooling benefit is real — less waste heat means your AC runs less often. This trick works, especially when combined with outdoor cooking or using a microwave instead of the oven.
6. Close Blinds During the Hottest Hours
Where this is an option, Young suggests closing blinds when you are not home or during peak heat hours. “I added blackout curtains in the rooms that get direct afternoon sun, which keeps the AC from working overtime during the hottest part of the day,” he says. Shavers agrees, noting that south- and west-facing windows let in the most solar heat. “Keeping blinds or blackout curtains drawn during peak daylight hours helps block solar heat gain and reduce indoor temperature naturally.”
According to the Department of Energy, medium-colored drapes with a white plastic backing can reduce solar heat gain by about 33 percent. Blackout curtains or reflective blinds can cut it even more — sometimes up to 50 percent. That translates directly into less work for your air conditioner. This trick is free if you already have blinds, cheap if you buy curtains, and very effective. It works best when you close them before the sun directly hits the window, ideally by late morning.
7. Install a Smart Thermostat
According to Young, one of the biggest changes he made in his own home was installing a smart thermostat. “Setting your thermostat to 78°F when you’re home and higher when you’re away can make a meaningful difference,” he explains. Smart thermostats learn your schedule and adjust the temperature automatically. They also let you control settings remotely, so you never waste energy cooling an empty house.
A widely cited Energy Star estimate says smart thermostats save households an average of 8 percent on heating and cooling costs — roughly $50 per year. But that figure assumes proper programming. If you already adjust the thermostat manually every day, the savings may be smaller. However, many smart models also provide energy reports that show you when your system is running hardest, which can motivate better habits. A typical smart thermostat costs between $100 and $250, but utility rebates often bring the price down. The payback period is one to three years. This trick works, especially for families who are away during the day and want to avoid wasting cool air.
Putting It All Together
None of these energy bill tricks is a miracle solution, but most deliver measurable savings when applied consistently. The biggest impact comes from maintaining your HVAC system, sealing air leaks, and switching to LED bulbs. The other tips — unplugging devices, improving circulation, shifting appliance usage, closing blinds, and installing a smart thermostat — provide smaller but still worthwhile gains. The best approach is to start with the high-impact actions and layer on the rest as your budget and schedule allow. Your wallet will thank you every month.
