How to Reduce an Energy Bill

There are many reasons for reducing your energy bill. It will save you money, increase the life of your appliances and reduce overall energy use. All of these things are very important for those seeking an eco-friendly lifestyle. Whether you want to save your wallet, save the planet or both, reducing your energy bill is a good place to start. As you will see, there are many small steps that you can take to reduce your energy use. Implementing some or all of these can add up to significant savings.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clothes line
• Dimmer switch
• Dust rag
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Programmable thermostat

1. Make some changes to the way you do laundry. Wash all laundry in cold water. Fill the washing machine completely. This will eliminate the energy needed to heat the water, as well as the energy used by running several small loads instead of one large one. You can further reduce your energy use by hanging your clothing up to dry. If you do opt to use the dryer, always keep the filter clean. This will significantly reduce the amount of time it takes for each load to dry.

2. Reduce your light usage. Turn off all lights when you leave a room. Install dimmer switches and avoid keeping lights on all the way when you don't need them. Place mirrors near windows to increase the natural light in the room. Dust off your light bulbs to keep them brighter. Install motion sensors on outdoor lights instead of leaving them on all night.

3. Replace your light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) as needed. As your bulbs burn out, consider replacing them with CFLs. These bulbs use 75 percent less energy than their counterparts. The only drawback is that they need to be left on for at least 15 minutes at a time to reap these benefits. This may make them inefficient for rooms such as the bathroom where lights are turned on and off frequently.

4. Adjust your thermostat. Instead of keeping your home at the same temperature year round, dress for the weather and allow your home to be a little warmer in summer and cooler in winter. Install a programmable thermostat if you don't already have one. Set it for 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer.

5. Keep it clean. Make sure that the filters are kept clean on your air conditioner. Dust off all air vents. Keep your fans clean so they're not dragging a thick layer of dust around. You should even clean the fridge coils on the back of your refrigerator to ensure optimum performance.

6. Upgrade your appliances. When it's time to purchase a new appliance, consider one with the Energy Star logo. This will ensure that your new appliance is energy efficient.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay conscious of your energy usage every day. Turn off any appliance that you aren't using. These small steps are what adds up.