How to Lower Your Electric Bill
The monthly recurring electric bill doesn’t have to be the lead filled envelope we picture when we think about it. There are many ways to conserve electricity. In doing so, not only are we saving money, we are also preserving the environment. Now not all of us can afford to switch to solar powered homes or hydrogen electrical generators, but we can do our part to save resources and money at the same time. Here are a few tips for conserving electricity and lowering that bill.
1. TURN OFF THE LIGHTS! I can’t yell at the kids enough about this particular issue. Now we don’t all have to feel our way around in the dark to try and save money, but a little common sense will tell you, if you aren’t using a light, turn it out. This goes for all of them. If you are sitting in a room watching television, use the small lamp and turn off the big overhead light. If you can’t completely turn off every light in your home at night, install dimmer switches for the major ones you use, that way you can turn down the wattage, believe me, this makes a difference over time.
2. Don’t flip the lights on and off several times. If you are going in and out of two rooms several times, leave them on until you are done with what you are doing. Every time you turn on an electrical circuit, it makes the meter turn harder and draws more electricity in the few seconds it is off than if you had just left it on to begin with.
3. Look around for any unused appliances. I don’t mean unplug the refrigerator because you aren’t getting anything out of it for a few hours but little appliances that we take for granted and often leave plugged in. An electric can opener, a toaster, the coffee pot, a microwave oven for example. Even if these items are not in use, just being plugged into the outlet creates an electrical current and draws a small amount of electricity ready for use when you turn them on. It might be a minor nusance but unplugging these items when they are not in constant use will lower your electric bill by a significant amount.
4. Use motion detecting outside lights. Do you really need the outside lights on when no one is outside? These can be set to go off only when someone comes within a certain area and then turn themselves off a short time later.
5. Set the thermostat and LEAVE IT ALONE. If you have central heating and air, set the thermostat to a comfortable room temperature and leave it alone. Turning it up and down is not only bad for the appliance but also causes your electric meter to soar. Also, check the breakers on these if they are not in use. Some of them have back up breakers that will kick the unit on even when the thermostat is set to off. Turn them off completely if you are going to be gone more than a day unless you have inside pets that will need climate control while you are gone.
6. Set the hot water heater to as low as possible. Your not going to need hot water all the time. If you don’t have an energy saver style, you can buy the kits and install them relatively easily so that the heater will not continuously circulate and heat water when not in use. Plus setting the temperature lower avoids nasty burns as hot water is a major safety hazard for small children.
7. If possible, hang your clothing to dry instead of using an electric dryer. This is a great energy saver especially in warmer weather, good for exercise and good for the environment. You will also see a dramatic decrease in your electric bill. You can also hand wash some clothing, reuse a towel a few times, and wear your house coat twice to avoid using extra electricity by piling up needless laundry.
8. If its possible, use a small space heater instead of cutting on the central unit for mildly cold nights. This uses less energy than heating a whole house. The same with an electric fan in warmer weather. If possible, install ceiling fans to help move the air comfortably around the house during mildly warm or cold nights. Is it really going to kill you to open a window once in a while?
9. If you have a fireplace, use it. Probably not the best “green” advice, but really, what were you going to do with all that dead wood anyway? And besides, how do you think they did it before central heating? Please be responsible and safety conscious.
10. If you notice a spike in your bill, have your home checked out. It might cost you a small lump sum to have a professional look at your electrical wiring, but it is usually worth it in the long run to locate a problem, especially if you live in an older home. Sometimes faulty or damaged wiring can cause electricity to be wasted by going to a bad breaker or causing the good wiring to work overtime. Never hesitate to ask your company to check your meter if you think the bill is unusually high. You can also get a print out from the company showing the amount of electricity the meter recorded being used over a period of time and pinpoint what points in the day the most electricity is used.
11. Insulate your home. If you cant afford new storm doors and windows, you can wrap them on the inside with plastic. Check for drafts and fill those little holes and cracks with caulking. Weather stripping for doors is relatively cheap and easy to install and should be checked at least twice a year for needed repairs. Check your insulation in your attic and basement areas at least once a year and have it redone as needed. This goes a long way towards conserving energy in your home.
12. Have your heating and air units serviced twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Cleaning them out and having the coils cleaned and repaired will cause them to work better and more efficiently. Also, check the filters every 3-6 weeks for cleaning or needed changing depending on what type you have. These little puppies collect dust like nobody’s business and dust clogs them up using more energy for the same output.
