Two straight months of rising inflation have put a strain on consumers’ wallets heading into the summer.
Soaring gas prices alone have caused around half of Americans to cut back on household expenses to afford fuel. Gas or groceries – it’s a dreaded decision, but there may be other ways to reduce spending that don’t involve necessities.
Utility bills, which are projected to rise 8 percent this summer, may be that magic area, said Patrick Gambel, owner of New Orleans-based General Heating & Air Conditioning.
“In most homes, electricity usually has the biggest potential for savings, mainly because of the AC and heating systems,” Gambel told The Independent in an email. “Your HVAC system is one of the biggest things using energy in your house, especially during the summer when the AC is running almost all day.”
Experts told The Independent there are several common-sense and unconventional ways to cut back on utility bills this summer.
Wise with water
The average American spends 16.1 minutes in the shower, according to a 2024 survey from polling firm Harris. That adds up to around 32 gallons of water, which costs around 70 cents per shower, according to luxury bathroom fixture firm Badeloft.
Cutting showers down from 16 minutes to four minutes could save a four-person household around $60 a month.
Other ways to save include filling bathtubs with less water and not letting the faucet run unnecessarily when brushing teeth or washing dishes, Gambel said.
Go easy on the gas
The latest inflation report revealed that utility gas is up 3 percent year-on-year. To combat those rising prices – and your monthly gas bill – awareness is the key.
The shower is the hot spot here. Some 69 percent of Americans like their water temperature very hot or “as hot as they can tolerate,” the Harris poll found. Dropping the shower temperature from blazing hot to warm can help reduce your energy costs.
“One of the easiest ways to save money on your gas bill is being more mindful about how much hot water and heat you’re using throughout the day,” Gambel said.
Smart season
Smart thermostats connect a thermostat (the device used to set the desired temperature in the home) to the internet, allowing an app to fine-tune your daily temperature settings based on usage patterns and other data it collects.
Using a thermostat can save consumers as much as 8 percent on their energy bill, product rating firm Consumer Reports notes. That translates into around $13 of monthly savings based on the $163 average electricity bill in May 2026, according to independent electricity comparison platform Electric Choice.
For those who don’t have smart thermostats, setting a traditional thermostat to “Auto” and changing AC filters monthly will save money, Gambel said.
“Keeping the fan on ‘Auto’ helps your system run more efficiently, and clean air filters help air flow better, so your system doesn’t have to work as hard,” he said.
Ice, ice baby
Consumers who’ve tried all the conventional ways of lowering their energy bills and are looking for more money-saving tactics still have options.
One out-of-the-ordinary home cooling trick that Gambel recommends for smaller rooms is placing a bucket or bowl of ice under a fan. The trick helps blow cooler air around without cranking up the AC.
“It’s obviously not replacing your AC system, but it can help make a space feel cooler and help you feel more comfortable temporarily,” he said.
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