15 Tips To Reduce Your Electric Bill
You don’t have to be environmentally conscious to worry about electric bills, the moment one finds itself in your mailbox; you will be searching for a way to go green. Lowering your electric bill doesn’t have to be difficult, there are many things you can do right now to start drastically reducing the cost of energy.
1. Shorter showers. That’s right, when you are using all that hot water it racks up your bill. Try shorter showers and avoid baths.
2. Use cold water to wash your clothes. Most of your clothes already need cold water when being washed. By avoiding using hot water in your washing machine, you could be on your way to a cheaper electric bill.
3. Hang your laundry out to dry. No really, this one is a huge cost saver, especially if you have kids and are constantly doing laundry. All it takes is a close line and some pins and you are on your way.
4. Kick open the windows! If it’s nice outside, try turning off your AC or heat and opening a few windows. Not only will this save you money, but you can enjoy airing out your house.
5. Dry Dishes the old fashion way. You know that little setting on your dishwasher, the heat dry option? Avoid it! If you don’t want to dry your dished by hand, you can open the door and allow them to air dry. As simple as that.
6. Make sure to turn your lights off! When you leave a room, flip that switch off. When you aren’t using your computer, power it down. These small things can add up, and soon you will see a drop in that bill!
7. Change the temperature! When you are away all day, you can easily turn off your AC (or at least turn it up) while you are gone. No one is there to use it and you can save as much as $100 a year!
8. Use fluorescent. That’s right, they may be more expensive at first, but fluorescent light bulbs pay off in the long run. They last almost 10 times longer than your normal incandescent light bulb.
9. Unplug it! Your cell phone charger will continue to drain energy just by being attached to a power source! So unplug things like microwaves and other gadgets when not in use.
10. Be smart about your fridge. Open the door as briefly as possible, and make sure the cold setting is set according to the manufacture. You will be surprised at the difference!
11. Turn off the water heater! This is a mixed one, but if you can get away with it, try turning off your water heater when you don’t need it. You can flip it back on 15 minutes before taking a shower or doing dishes.
12. Candle light is romantic. Try eating your dinner by candle light for a change of scenery. Not only will it help it keeping your monthly bill down, but it will provide a very relaxing environment, perfect for unwinding after a long day.
13. Replace appliances. If you have the money, switching from electric dryers to a gas one, will be a great long term investment. In the years it will definitely pay off and there are many eco-star products out there to help!
14. Fix those cracks! If your door has gaps around it, or your windows aren’t sealed properly, you may want to fix that. When you have the heat on, most of it will fly right out the window, causing you to crank the heat up even more!
15. Clean air filters. If you remember to change your air filter about once a month, your energy costs will be reduced. Not to mention your air a whole lot cleaner!
Now that you have these energy saving tips, you should be on your way to a better (and cheaper) monthly energy bill. Some of these are sacrifices, and others won’t hurt you a bit. You may even find out your prefer having the windows open to your AC! So if you are in need of reducing your energy bill, try a few of these tips and watch the result it has on your bill!
