How to Lower an Electricity Bill

It wasn't until I called an electric company representative to have them come do a home energy check to see how I could bring down my electric and home heating bill that I found out all the ways we wasted electricity without even realizing it. After making certain changes, my electric bill is usually around twenty to thirty dollars less than it was. I wanted to share those changes. With gasoline increases at the pump, higher food prices, and more, any savings helps.

Things You'll Need

• coiled energy saving lightbulbs
• home inspection (you may be able to get a free checklist from your electric company)

Instructions

1. 

   Purchase the coiled energy saving light bulbs. They are more expensive but last much longer. Most of mine are still good after a year. They also come in a variety of sizes. In the long run they are less expensive in the sense that they use less electricity to run, you do not have to change light bulbs so often, and you do not have to purchase so many light bulbs.

2. 

   The microwave oven clock and timer light is always on. We are so used to its being there that we do not think about any costs generated by those red or white numerals or the digital timer. Try unplugging the microwave when it is not in use, or at least overnight if you feel you need the clock.

3. 

   Stereo equipment, DVD players and or recorders, and other similar equipment also have clocks and a variety of lights. My son's stereo was always on, even when not being used. This is another potential savings. When you leave your bedroom, den, living room, or other area where you have a stereo set up make sure you turn it completely off. If this takes care of the lights but not the clock, try unplugging the stereo when not in use.

4. 

   The device that caught me unaware was the DVR recorder device I got with my digital cable subscription. The clock is on at all times. You should consider unplugging the box overnight or when you are going to be away from home at work, shopping, vacations, etc. and will not be home. Most DVR recorders reset themselves within five to ten minutes after you plug them back in.

5. 

   When my nineteen year old daughter still lived at home, my biggest issues with her was that she never turned her TV off. Most television sets have a timer that you can set to automatically shut the TV off at a certain time or after a certain number. Many people fall asleep in bed at night with the television still playing or leave them on when rushing to get ready and off to work or school. This will not only waste electricity, your television will wear out faster.

6. 

   Turn your desktop PC or laptop off when they are not being used. Although you can set your computer to hibernate or go into sleep mode, some electricity is still being used. It is okay to use the hibernation and sleep modes if you are only going to be away from the computer for a few minutes, but many people keep them on round the clock. Some professionals say that it is best to keep you computer on at all times, that is not my philosophy. This step, more than the others, is a matter of personal choice.

7. 

   Chang the way you do laundry. Instead of throwing in one or two items of clothing in the washer a dozen times a week, try collecting or finding enough dirty laundry to make a larger load and wash things together. (Of course you still need to wash red clothes and whites separately). If you have one item, like a uniform or other clothing needed for work, see if any other family member has anything they would like washed at the same time.

8. 

   Air dry clothes outdoors to saving on both gas and electric costs. (Many people do not choose this option as they either do not have the time or find laundry to be stiff or 'scratchy' afterwards). There are a variety of sprays available for clothing with that will keep them from getting wrinkled while air drying, will leave towels and other laundry soft and with a pleasing scent, etc. You can even find environmentally safe or natural sprays now. Towels and other laundry items have a fresh clean scent after air drying.

9. 

   Air dry articles of clothing in your basement, patio, enclosed porch, or other area if you only have a few items. There are a variety of clothes hangers on the market.

10. 

    Encourage your children and other family members not to hold the refrigerator door open for a long period of time, to try and decided what they want and get it out quickly. For drinks in bottles and jugs, like milk, have them get the jug out and then close the refrigerator door while they pour what they want. The warmer your refrigerator gets the more often the motor will kick in to get the inside back up to the temperature you have it set at.

11. 

    Use ceiling or other fans whenever possible over your central air unit or window air conditioners. Although fans use electricity, also, the cost is less. There are a variety of ceiling fans and they are easy to install. Floor fans also come in a variety of styles and sizes.

12. 

    Consider keeping your thermostat set at around seventy or seventy-five degrees. Turning the thermostat up and down also uses more electricity.

13. 

    Close air conditioning vents in rooms that are not being used at the time and do the same in the winter to save on heating costs. You can open bedroom vents an hour or two before bedtime, which should be plenty of time to cool the room.

14. 

    Change, or have your air conditioning unit filters changes each spring and your heating unit filter changed ever fall for maximum savings.

15. 

    Have your entire home checked to see if it is properly insulated, including the attic.

16. 

    Have a fan installed to keep your attic cool, which in turn, keeps your house cooler and cuts down electricity usage. There is a good variety of solar attic fans available that are environmentally friendly.

17. 

    Keep blinds drawn when the sun is at a point in the sky that various rooms in your house are being flooded with the sun's heat. This will help ensure your house stays cool while using the least amount of air conditioning.

18. 

    Install awnings on the outsides of your home. Many styles of awnings can can be rolled up or down so that you can keep them up in the evenings and early mornings when it is cooler out if you choose.

19. 

    You should also make sure your windows are caulked to keep out as much heat as you can in summer and cold air out in winter. There are a variety of window kits that are very inexpensive if you want to work on your windows yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• You can find many products that are now all natural and more environmentally safe. Shop around or type what you are looking for in your browser's search bar, if you prefer to use natural items or solar run items.

• If you have young children, grandchildren, or other young family members you can purchase refrigerator locks to them from wasting electricity.

• If you have more insulation put in your home make sure it does not have any asbestos in it.

• Although the cotton and fiberglass insulation with paper backing is okay, there are also the newer "foam" insulation that is better.