How to Lower Your Electricity Bill

Reduce Your Electricity Bill

Although you can't easily pay less per kilowatt hour, you can use less electricity, which will lower your monthly bill. There are several ways to use less electricity that you might not be aware of. Follow some of these energy saving suggestions so you can keep more of your money in your wallet.

Instructions

1. Replace your existing incandescent light bulbs with Energy Star compact fluorescent light bulbs. This is a significant money saver that you'll notice on your next monthly electricity bill. You could save $2 per month per light bulb if it is used for six hours per day. Of course, you have to factor in the cost of the new bulbs, but even so, you'll have saved yourself money in a few months if you replace only the light bulbs that you use more than a few hours each day. There are some things you need to be aware of when choosing the proper fluorescent light bulb. For example, a 60-watt incandescent light bulb is equivalent to a 13- to 15-watt fluorescent light bulb.

2. Measure how much each device uses. You can purchase a Kill A Watt, which is a small device that measures the amount of energy being used. Then attach it to each device in your home that you use frequently such as a dehumidifier, computer, cable box, refrigerator, dish washer, etc. Record your results. Compare your results with the Energy Star ratings of new devices to see if purchasing a new device would help reduce your energy consumption. Also factor in the cost of the new device over the period of time you think you'll be using it.

3. Another way to estimate how much each device in your home costs you per month is to use the energy cost calculator per device at the Mr. Electricity website in the References section.

4. Figure out which devices don't need to be on all day long. For example, if computers are typically on all day and night, you're consuming a lot of energy when you aren't really using it. Many newer computers have a sleep mode. Get into the habit of putting your computer to sleep when you walk away from it, and set it up for automatic sleep mode when you know you won't be using it. This could save you a significant amount of money each month and it doesn't cost anything to implement.

5. Some energy hogs consume energy even when they're not being used. Some of these devices include cable boxes, VCRs, DVD players, microwaves, unused appliances and other various equipment with LCD screens or clocks. Turn them off when they are not in use. If the device(s) don't have an on/off switch, then plug it/them into a power strip that can be turned off when it's not being used. This will save you some money on your electricity bill.

6. Older refrigerators (from the 1980s to the 1990s) consume a tremendous amount of energy compared to newer refrigerators. Replacing your old refrigerator could save you a lot of money, but do your own research and measure your energy consumption with a Kill A Watt first before jumping right into buying a new fridge. Also factor in the cost of the new fridge into your plan.

References

• Energy Star: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Info
• Mr Electricity: Energy Cost Calculator Per Device

Resources

• P3 International: Kill A Watt