How to Save on Your Electric Bills

Most Americans are money-conscious.  We compare prices and buy our stuff on sale to save money.  Utility bills can also be trimmed by using some simple, proven suggestions from the U.S. Energy Department Agency.  About a quarter of the energy used in the home goes toward keeping the lights on.  Along with doing your part on turning off the lights when not in use, here are some simple money saving ways you can do to cut costs on your electric bills and help save on the energy usage.

Good Savings:

1. Install motion detectors on outside lights and install closet lights that turn on and off automatically when you open or close the closet doors.  This way, there would be less chance for the lights to be left on accidentally.
2. Keep your curtain open during the day to allow sunlight and heat into the room during the winter.  In summer keep the curtain close when the sunlight hit.

Better Savings:

1. If your water-heater is more than 10 years old, buy and wrap your hot water heater in a precut jacket or blanket to save on water heating costs (available in local hardware store).  The newer model is better insulated and more energy efficient.
2. Use a programmable thermostat.  Half of the utility bills go to heating and cooling home.  You can save about $180 a year by properly setting the programmable thermostat and maintain those settings.  The key is to establish a program that automatically reduces heating and cooling in your home when you don’t need as much.  Set the temperature back at least 8 degrees F and increase the temperature up to 4 degrees to 7 degrees F for the time when you are away from home.
3. Launder everything in cold water.  90% of the energy used by a top loading washing machine is for heating water.  The Energy Star rated washing machine will use 50% less water and 70 % less energy per load that is the saving about $100 per year.
4. Unplug electronic equipment when not in use.  They draw power even though they are off.  About 75% of the energy consumed by your home appliances occur while they are turn off but still plugged in.  That is enough to power your home for one month each year.
5.  Use laptop on hard surface rather than on carpet or soft supports, soft pillow block the airflow and cause overheating.
6. Change your heating and cooling filter every month, especially during heavy use months.  A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to help you heat and cool-wasting energy.

Best Savings:

1. Use a low-flow shower head.  A low-flow shower head uses less than 2 and one half gallons of water per minute vs. a 7 gallon per minute for the old models.  The saving is in less energy used to heat the water.  You can reduce your utility bill $20 to $40 annually.
2. Cut the operating time of your pool’s filter and automatic cleaning cycle to 4 or 5 hours, and only use it during off-peak time and, according to California’s Consumer Energy Center, you will save 1-2 % from normal energy usage.
3. Enroll in a “cycling” program with your utility company.  The power company will use a radio signal to shut off your heating system or air conditioning periodically during peak usage times on weekdays for 15 minutes over a 3 hour period.

Start saving money.  By getting into the habit of not wasting energy in your home, you will help reduce the costs on your utility bills and that’s extra money in your pocket.