These Little Product Swaps Can Save You A Lot Of Money On Your Electric Bill

Using more energy-efficient products in the home can be a great way to help mitigate the impacts of climate change, but there’s another bonus to using less energy: It can lower your bills. If you’ve noticed that you’re paying more than usual for electricity in your home, a change might be in the cards.

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To make it easier, look for labels like the Energy Star certification, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awards to highly energy-efficient products, as well as product reviews from people who can personally vouch for the effects of energy-efficient products on their homes and finances.

From lightbulbs to thermostats and other tech you have around the home, swapping to a more energy-efficient choice could save you some serious money over time. Don’t leave that money on the table! Keep reading for some of the best energy-efficient products you can add to your home, and do the planet — and your wallet — a favor.

These editor-approved smart plugs

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These Kasa smart plugs have passed the test of former editor Janie Campbell and so many others, given their 10,000+ 5-star reviews. They’re easy to set up and you can set schedules or timers to turn household devices on or off so they’re not left running all the time. These also work with Google Home voice control in addition to Alexa and also have their own Kasa app, so you can control your devices remotely even if you’re not home.

Promising review: “I have these smart plug modules all over my house. They are extremely convenient and can save money, too. Our power company switched to time-of-day metering, where they charge more during peak usage. I put these modules on my chest freezer and other appliances that I don’t want to use during peak usage. The module turns off the appliance during peak hours and turns it back on when the rate is cheaper. I have them on certain window air conditioners, too!” —jeffrey Town-Campell

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in a two-pack as pictured).

Or a power strip of six Kasa smart plugs for even more control

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Sometimes, one or two smart plugs aren’t enough for the amount of devices you want to control, especially if you’re stuck with a limited amount of outlets. That’s where a power strip can come in handy — this one works the same as the other Kasa smart plugs above, except it has six outlets, so you can plug in and control even more devices through the app.

Promising review: “Like the single plugs, this is easy to set up, and we started saving $ on our electric bill the very first day. I’m so glad we got these. I even set up a group called ‘fans’ that can turn on the floor fans to cool down the building on a schedule that works for us. We also don’t waste $ by someone forgetting to turn something off. So excited to implement this for our business and shave a big chunk off our electricity bill.” —Jennie A.

Get it from Amazon for $47.99.

This four-pack of EcoSmart dimmable LED lightbulbs

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These 60-watt bulbs are also Energy Star-certified and last up to 15,000 hours, or about 13 years, depending on how long you leave the lights on. They have a classic round bulb design and a soft white glow, and they’re dimmable, so you can adjust the lighting to your preference (and turn down the brightness when you want to save some more money).

Promising review: “I have ordered these (once) before. They last a very long time and are of great quality. Highly recommended, has cut my energy bill during the years I have switched all bulbs over to this type.” —Robert E

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $11.98.

Some cordless motion sensor lights you can mount almost anywhere

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Want a light under your kitchen cabinets? Along the stairs? In your closet? These battery-operated motion sensor lights make it possible to put lights almost anywhere you want without the need for lamps, string lights, or anything corded that can raise your electricity bill. Each powered by three AAA batteries, the bright LED bulbs only turn on in the darkness when there’s motion within 10 feet, and automatically shut off after 15 seconds of no motion detected. They’re easy to install with adhesive pads and built-in magnets, and you can choose between five combinations of colors and bulb warmths.

Promising review: “I purchased these lights to help my kids see going up and down the stairs at night and as wells to save money on the light bill!! Since this purchase, I am definitely saving money. We don’t even think about turning on the stairway lights” —Syeta Wilkerson

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in five colors).

A cordless LED desk lamp with a flexible neck

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If you spend a lot of time working at a desk at home, one easy way to lower your electricity bill is to swap a traditional desk lamp with a cordless LED one like this battery-powered option. The light can be adjusted between three color modes and three brightness levels. It has a built-in phone mount and pen holder, and it can work for three to nine hours with a full USB charge. The lamp comes in four colors, and several reviewers noted that it’s been a great help during power outages, too!

Promising review: “THIS THING IS SO GOOD. I expected it to be…eh. Given the price. But it’s actually really great! Chargeable, so I can move it around without a cord and different light settings! The pink is very accurate. It’s a soft, pretty color. And it’s so easy to use! Literally, just tap lightly!” —Fi

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in four colors).

This whisper-quiet Blueair purifier

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This Energy Star-certified air purifier, which also made Energy Star’s Most Efficient list of 2024, can clean up to 526 square feet of air in 30 minutes but only operates at 46 decibels on its highest setting, so it won’t disturb your peace and quiet. It uses dual HEPA filtration to get rid of dust, pollen, smoke, and airborne particles down to 0.1 microns.

Promising review: “The noise level is extremely low. Wouldn’t know it was running but for the power light on top or putting your ear within a foot of it. Energy efficiency seems high because now that we have it running 24/7, there seems to be no significant uptick in utility bills. Maneuverability is good, because it could go on a desk or nightstand, but we have it on the floor in a corner.” —Primrose

Get it from Amazon for $119.99+ (available in four styles).

Or a Clorox air purifier for a small room

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This air purifier by Clorox can clean a room of 80 square feet up to five times an hour, and was named to Energy Star’s Most Efficient list in 2024. It uses a two-stage, 360-degree HEPA filter and has three speeds, as well as an optional timer you can set to work with your schedule, and an adjustable nightlight that you can dim or turn off.

Promising review: “This purifier runs silent and is perfect for a dusty environment like a work office. Practically no setup required. Just plug it in and turn it on. The filter can be removed and blown out with an air hose and reused so that you don’t need to buy expensive replacement filters like so many other models. Recommend!” —Carolina Cousin

Get it from Amazon for $51.84+ (available in two styles).

A Levoit air purifier named one of the most efficient of the year

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Saving money on your energy bill and saving time you might otherwise have to spend dusting? Say no more. Operating at under 35 kilowatt hours per year, this Levoit air purifier is on Energy Star’s Most Efficient list for 2024 — and it’s a steal at under $50. It has three stages of filtration, an option to add essential oils for aromatherapy, and over 17,000 5-star ratings on Amazon. It comes in two colors. Note: According to Johns Hopkins, you may want to avoid diffusing oils around larger groups and young children because of the side effects of different oils. You may also want to avoid using an oil diffuser around pets with breathing problems, according to the ASPCA.

Promising review: “I bought two of these. This large one and a small one for our bedroom. My husband is a smoker and I can tell a huge difference in the air quality. I ended up putting the small one by where he smokes in the kitchen and it made a world of difference. The small one has a place on the side for you to put essential oils. That I absolutely love! I love the sleep mode, it also has a timer on it. The filters are very easy to clean; you just use a vacuum to clean them. They are a little noisy, but we have gotten used to them now, and it doesn’t bother us at all. The first time I went to clean the filters I couldn’t believe all the dust it had collected. We have a very old house, and I don’t have to dust as much now! I feel these are well worth the money. I will definitely be purchasing a couple more!” —Chrystal E.

Get it from Amazon for $39.98.

A Google Nest smart thermostat

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The Google Nest Thermostat is Energy Star-certified, turns down the energy when you leave home, can be controlled through the Google Home app or voice control with Google Assistant or Alexa, and is compatible with 85% of home systems, most of which don’t have a C-wire. It comes in four colors.

Promising review: “This product was so easy to install. I literally took it out of the box and had it installed within 10 minutes, and the app downloaded and linked in another 5-10 minutes. Anyone can do this, and the ability to have better control over the thermostat, both summer and winter, will save me some real money. We turn the temp down (in winter) and up (in summer) when we are not home and then can adjust appropriately when we are returning home so that the house is comfortable when we arrive back home.” —Kevin J Plets

Get it from Amazon for $90.03+ (available in four finishes).

10.

The Amazon smart thermostat that works with Alexa

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If you already have other Amazon smart home products like an Echo Dot with Alexa or the Ring doorbell, the Amazon Smart Thermostat might be another… smart purchase (excuse the pun). This Energy Star-certified thermostat helps you reduce your energy use by letting you track it in the Alexa app. You can set the temperature from anywhere with Alexa or let Alexa take the reins to program it for you. Amazon will even email you with details about potential rebates from energy providers in your area to help you save money on energy costs after you purchase the thermostat.

Promising review: “LOVE IT!! Installation instructions are thorough and easy to follow. It integrated SO WELL with all the Amazon stuff already in our house. (Alexa app is necessary.) The schedule is great, and control with any Alexa device or my phone is super easy. The most solid piece of home automation device so far. (And we have MANY).” —Scott

Get it from Amazon for $79.99.

11.

A Honeywell Home smart color touchscreen thermostat

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This smart thermostat can be controlled from anywhere using the app or a smart home assistant and is Energy Star-certified to help you track and reduce your energy use. Unlock the previous two thermostats; the touchscreen display can be changed to any color you like to match your decor and show you both the indoor and outdoor temperatures, plus the humidity levels.

Note that a C-wire is required to install this thermostat, so you’ll want to check if it’ll be compatible with your home before you purchase it.

Promising review: “This thermostat was exactly what I was looking for, so I don’t have to get up out the bed to turn it up or down. I was able to install it myself. I’m a woman with no electrical experience, so if you can read and you have patience, you can do it. It works great and is easily integrated into my Echo Show. The background color choices make it very stylish, and it’s Honeywell, so you can’t go wrong. Recommend.” —Monica

Get it from Amazon for $179.99.

12.

Or a less expensive Honeywell Home T5 smart thermostat

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This Honeywell Home thermostat is affordable but still smart and functional, according to reviewers. According to the brand, high use of the thermostat’s scheduling feature has saved customers between 8 and 16% on energy bills and is also Energy Star-certified. You can choose between seven-day scheduling to program the thermostat yourself or use the location-based temperature control, which employs Geoforce technology based on your smartphone to figure out when you’re home or away and adjust the temperature accordingly. This one also requires a C-wire or adapter.

Promising review: “This thermostat does exactly what I wanted it to do. It has geofencing so that when we all leave the premises and travel outside of our ring (I have ours set to about 3/4 of a mile away because my wife works just about a mile from home), then it sets the temperature to a different setting (lower in the winter, higher in the summer) to save on energy while we are away. The regular programmable ones won’t work for us because our schedules change all the time. If any one of us comes home, the temperature goes back to our normal comfortable setting. We also have it programmed to back off the setting a bit while we sleep. There was a bit of a learning curve because, at first, it always thought we were away. What I didn’t realize at first was that each phone has to be set up on its own account. When they were logged into the same account, if the system saw one out of the circle, it lowered the temperature as if all were away. Since registering each device separately, it has been flawless. I recommend it highly. Great product, great price!” —LazyRiver

Get it from Amazon for $85 (available in five styles).

13.

This Midea portable dehumidifer with over 11,000 5-star ratings on Amazon

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This portable dehumidifier is Energy Star-certified and can remove up to 22 pints of moisture per day from 1,500 square feet of air. It has an adjustable humidity setting from 35% to 85% and, according to the brand, saves 31% energy in comparison to traditional dehumidifiers. You can also control it from anywhere with a Wi-Fi connection and the app or a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant. It has 360-degree wheels, an auto-shutoff feature when the water tank is full, and an auto-restart feature after a power outage.

Promising review: “I live in the Deep South. Major heat waves every summer. Last year, during a similar heat wave, our electricity bill was over 900 bucks (3600 square feet 120-year-old house). This heat wave it was under 600. The difference? We could keep the thermostat set higher with the help of this dehumidifier and still be comfortable. Bonus: I use the water to water my plants. And it tells the truth. Highly recommend.” —Meg

Get it from Amazon for $179+ (available in three sizes).

14.

A super-efficient and funky-looking space heater

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Reviewers say this space heater heats up fast, meaning you don’t have to run it forever, and you can heat up your space without hiking up your bill a ton. It has three heating modes, is made of fire-resistant materials, operates quietly at just 35 decibels, and looks like a retro piece of decor with a triangular wooden stand that’s removable if you prefer the heater without it.

Promising review: “These heaters are great. Small, but very efficient. I live in a 900-square-foot apartment, and they heat the whole apartment. The temp went from 66 to 73 in a couple of hours. It’ll make a dent in the power bill. Thank you.” —Marge Dugan

Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in four colors).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.