Tips on How to Lower your Electric Bill

We have all been extra cost-conscious lately and look for ways to stretch our dollars. I’ve learned to save a considerable amount of money every month by lowering my electric bill. Here are a few tips on what you can do to make your electric bill more affordable without having to live as if you were in the dark ages.

Heating and cooling your residence is the most energy sucking activity in your home.

• Plug your electronics into a power strip. Before you leave the house or head to bed, turn off all the appliances that suck your pocket book dry with a single switch.

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL).  While they cost more than regular bulbs they are well worth the investment. CFL bulbs last up to 10 times longer and use about a third of the electricity.

• Purchase a jacket for your hot water heater.  Hot water heaters suck up a lot of power. Instead of opting for cold showers, pick up a $10-$20 hot water heater jacket at your local appliance store. The extra insulation will reduce the amount of energy used to heat your water.
  

• Program it.  Heating and cooling your residence is the most energy sucking activity in your home. Take advantage of a programmable thermostat so that your AC or heater is on only when you are home.

• Turn it up or down. Putting the thermostat one degree cooler if you use a heater or one degree warmer when you are using the AC can save hundreds of dollars a year in your electric bill. You aren’t likely to notice a one degree temperature difference either.

• Replace it. Old refrigerators, stoves and microwaves are large energy suckers. Purchasing newer energy efficient models will pay off in the long run.

• Reduce it. Investing in low-flow toilets, faucets and shower heads helps you save money on your electric bill by reducing the amount of hot water you use.

• Wash clothes in cold. Washing your clothes in cold water is just as effective as hot water and better on the fabric.  By using less hot water you reduce the size of your electric bill.

• Wash it all together.  Wait to run the dryer and dishwasher until you have a full load.  Running half loads means you have to run more of them, which will boost your electricity bill up.

• Hang dry your laundry. Avoiding the dryer is best for keeping your clothes and reduces the amount of power you use.