How to Save Money on Electricity
One way to get a handle on your expenses is to take a look at your electric bill and find ways to reduce it. In 2009 the average U.S. monthly electric bill was $103, with some states like Hawaii averaging about twice that. With this kind of out-of-pocket expense every month, few people can afford not to be frugal with electricity. One small change won't cut your bill in half, but many small changes can make a significant difference in your bill.
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Instructions
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Change all the light bulbs in your house to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. These curly bulbs give the same amount of light as regular incandescent light bulbs but cost about 25 percent as much to use. They cost more initially but last much longer, so even the purchase price generally evens out.
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Turn off every electric item in your house when you aren't using it. Go through your house and look for items using electricity. If they aren't directly benefiting you right now, turn them off. Shut down computers, video game systems, stereos, televisions, lights, fans and any other electric item in a room other than the one you're currently in.
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Adjust the temperature on your air conditioning unit to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This is cool enough to get the humidity out of the air in your house and make it comfortable to live and sleep, but not so cold that you're wasting electricity. If you have to put on long pants during the day and use blankets at night, your house is too cold in the summer.
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Save money by only heating the water you absolutely need. Wrap the water heater tank in a tank blanket. This insulating layer will keep the water hot, reducing the need for it to be reheated. Wash dishes in warm water and clothes in cold water as much as possible. Take shorter showers, give small children communal baths and turn the hot water off in the bathroom unless you're actively using it. Turn the temperature dial on the hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have to add cold water to it to make a comfortable shower or bath, the water is too hot.
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References
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Table 5: Residential Average Monthly Bill by Census Division, and State
- EnergyQuest; Saving Energy; June 2011
- Money Under 30; How to Save Money on Electricity: 8 Small Steps to Slash Your Electric Bill; David Weliver
- U.S. Department of Energy; 10 Ways to Save Money and Energy in the New Year; January 2011
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
