Saving on Electricity

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One of the expenses that can really start to add up in your home is the utilities, specifically electricity. Often we neglect to realize that we have control of how much this costs us each month. Just making a few changes can really impact your electricity bill each month. It might take a little more energy or using an extra blanket, but keep in mind how much you will be saving. These minor changes will really add up.

Firstly, install the new type of fluorescent bulbs in lights you leave on for extended time periods. They provide about four times as much light and last times longer than incandescent bulbs. This can add up to a savings of about $10-$50/year.

Try lowering the temperature on your hot water heater to between 110 and 120 degrees. It’s not necessary to have it any hotter and wastes energy. Cut back on the long, hot showers, this can really add up.

Find out if your utility company offers free energy audits, where they inspect your home for energy effectiveness and recommend inexpensive ways to cut energy costs, such as insulating hot water heaters, weather-stripping, etc. Just insulating your hot water heater could save you $25 a year.

Set the thermostat no higher than 68 degrees in winter and no lower than 78 degrees in summer. Turn your heat down even further at night and when you’re not home (unless you have a heat pump, which operates more efficiently at one consistent setting). Each extra degree in winter can increase heating costs by 3%. In summer, each degree can raise cooling costs by about 6%. This can add up to about $325 to $500/year.

Try to cut back on the use of your clothes dryer. Not only is it a big energy drain, it can also suck heated air out of your house very quickly in winter. Hang clothes outside or on a clothes rack to dry and use the dryer for towels and other heavier items. This will amount to a savings of around $25-50/year.

Finally, when cooking up a meal, use your microwave when possible instead of your oven, which can save up to 50% in energy costs for cooking. There is a potential savings of about $50/year.

[Ima saver]

My hot water is turned off 23 hours a day.

[Thrifty Ray]

I can attest that you can adapt to a less warm enviornment.

We moved to Oregon from So. Calif about 12 years ago. I grew up at the beach and was used to wearing shorts and tank tops on Thanksgiving. I was basically what you'd call a cold weather 'wuss'. I HATED to be cold and got GRUMPY when I was.

Fast forward to today... I am sitting in a house heated only by a small wood stove- many days, the warmest my house gets is 62....(brrr) I have on THICK socks and three sweater layers. When I am not up running around, I keep a lap blanket at hand. But the coolness in the house no longer bothers me - my house is all electric and my bill in the winter runs no more than spring or fall... a good thing, as others I know have bills int he 100's this time of year.

My body (or is it my mind) has adjusted to a MUCH cooler enviornment.

[Ima saver]

Ray, I use to live in Fla., now in the mountains of N. Ga. I keep my heat set on 60, and like you wear socks and several sweaters. Walking on my treadmill warms me up too.

[closecut]

I'm actually pretty bad at saving on it myself, having two computers on 24/7 But I do use low-energy-bulbs, and I never use the oven to re-heat food

I don't have electrical heating though, which is good, because where I live it's cold like 10 months/year

[mbhunter]

Another alternative to the oven is a toaster oven. Lots less space to heat up, and it doesn't sog up your small pizzas.

[Bruce Wayne]

You could also use solar panels to heat your water, especially if you live in a warm climate. That way you save money and help the environment.

[Ima saver]

Someone posted that it takes about $1 to run your dryer. I will just have to pay it, I hate hanging clothes. Clothes lines are not even permitted in my neighborhood!

[Tightwad Kitty]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Someone posted that it takes about $1 to run your dryer. I will just have to pay it, I hate hanging clothes. Clothes lines are not even permitted in my neighborhood!

I did read an article some where that some counties in America doesn’t allow clothes lines. I would miss my mine. I have a 1950 Rotary Clothes Line that can hold 4-5 large loads of washing at time plus I have under the house clothes line that holds 3 loads of washing at time. Now I only do 2 loads plus hand washing at time. Just think of all the dollars in electricity that is saved here as about 90% of Australia line dry.

[Ima saver]

Thank goodness i don't have a lot of clothes to wash, there is just the two of us.