Savings no matter how small add up. With electrical cost on the rise it is more important than ever to reduce your utility bill. Is every light in the house on? Are you over plugged in? Are you too hot or too cold in the house?
Switching from old fashion light bulbs to the new energy efficient models is a great place to start with saving on electricity. Turning lights off that you are not using is also a good idea. Are there security lights around the house? Install motion detector lights so they are not constantly on.
Do you have to fall asleep to the televison set? Take advantage of the sleep timer. Plug computers into power strips that you can turn off when the computer is off. Try unplugging those items that use battery chargers such as cell phones and hand vacs. Then unplug the chargers themselves when the items are fully charged. Even with nothing on them these still use electricity.
Invest in a cover for the hot water heater and turn it down some. Set the water temperature on your washing machine for a cold wash and rinse cycle. If you have something that absolutely has to be washed in hot water then set it to wash in hot water and rinse in cold water. Avoid using the clothes dryer when ever possible. Hang them outside in the fresh air to dry.
Limit the time you spend in the shower to fifteen to twenty minutes instead of an hour or however long it takes for the hot water to run out. Putting a cover on the hot water heater and lowering the thermostat a few degrees will help to save energy as well.
Turn the thermostat on your air conditioner up in the summer to the highest temperature you are comfortable at and turn on a ceiling fan. In the winter turn the thermostat down the lowest setting you can stand and reverse the direction of the ceiling fan.
Is it too hot to cook? Try grilling out; veggies can go on the grill too. When it is extremely hot you can even make sun tea to get something to drink and avoid using electricity all together for that one meal.
When cooking indoors put a lid on pots when cooking. If you need water for cooking and you also have dishes to do, let the water run into the pot as it heats up for the dishes. Can what you are baking in the oven be made in the microwave? There are some foods take less energy to bake in the microwave than in the oven.
Are you baking more than one thing? Then find a temperature that they can all cook at and put them in the oven together; the cooking times will change but it will save you a small amount of energy.
Make sure you aren’t losing air around doors and windows. The new front door you just installed looks great but is it properly installed? Are there leaks around it? Does it fit right? If you have a gap around the edges of the door some weather stripping may be a good place to start.
There is also caulk and foam that can be found at local hardware stores that can come in handy to seal air leaks.
Is the weather comfortable outside? Then turn the air off and open a window or two to cool off. If you need a little more air flow then place a box fan in the window or a floor fan near the window to pull air in. Use the ceiling fan to circulate the air around the room.
Check your appliances. Is the seal on your refrigerator still sealed? Make sure the seal is still intact and not leaking air out. Do not overload the refrigerator or the freezer. Set the temperature as low as you can and still keep the food fresh. Check for an energy saving setting on your appliances as well.
These are just a few things that will help to cut the cost of the electricity bill.