How to Save Money on Your Electric Bill
The thermostat seems to be a source of high energy useage. Buying a progammable thermostat can be one of the wisest decisions in this area. During the summer, set it to 78 degrees when you are going to be home, and 85 when you will be away. You can set it to start cooling off about an hour before you arrive home. Even if you must have it a little cooler than 78, setting it to be higher while you are gone will help a lot. Invest in a ceiling fan to move air around. During the winter, the opposite applies. Let it stay cooler when you aren’t home or at night when you will be covered up. Ideally, you can set it to 68 during the day and 55 at night or while you are away. Change the filter on your unit monthly. Also, close vents and shut the doors to rooms you rarely use. The best bet is to turn the heat or air unit off as often as possible and open windows on nice days. This uses NO energy!
Use natural light as much as possible. This eliminates using too many lights. On hot, sunny days, however, close the curtains on the south and west sides of the house. Too much sunlight will heat up the rooms and cost more in air conditioning to cool it off. Turn off lights when you aren’t in the room. Use compact flourescent lightbulbs instead of regular bulbs. The compact flourescents last longer and use almost 75% less electricty. Use dimmers on regular lights.
The hot water heater also uses a great deal of energy. If possible, switch to a “heat as you go” heater. They, while expensive to purchase, will save lots of money in the long run because they heat water as it is used, and only what you need. If you can’t afford it, though, you can make the most out of the water heater you have. The first thing to do it turn it down. Set the thermostat to 120 degrees. Only run the dishwasher when it is totally full and air dry or energy saver dry. Wash clothes in cold water. It won’t hurt them. Turn hot water off when you aren’t using it. There is no need to keep it running while shaving, for example. Reduce time in the shower if at all possible.
Make sure you clean the lint out of the lint trap on the dryer after every load. Not only is it a fire hazard to leave it in there, cleaning it out will help the dryer to run more efficiently. It can also help to pull out the dryer every so often to clean out the hose that goes from the back of the dryer to outside. Better yet, get in the habit of hanging clothes on the clothesline outside when the weather is nice enough to do so. That will save a ton of energy. Also keep the condenser coils on the refrigerator clean. They can be dusted with a vacuum or cloth on a yardstick.
Other tips:
Use the microwave or crock pot instead of the oven as often as possible.
When purchasing new appliances, look for an energy star label. These will use less energy.
Turn off the computer when not in use. Also unplug VCR’s, tv’s, ect that aren’t used regularly. These use electricity even when “off”. If you will be away from home for a long period such as a vacation, unplug everything you can.
Install foam gaskets around light switch covers and plug covers on exterior walls.
Have the heat/air unit serviced every spring and summer for maximum efficiency.
It won’t take a lot to make these changes, but the end result could add a lot more to your pocket!
Caulk and weatherstrip doors and windows. A lot of heat and air can escape this way. Keep the front door closed if the air or heat are on, even if you have a storm door. Insulate the attic and keep it vented in warmer weather.
