9 Electricity Conservation Tips

Posted by Kristen on August 19, 2013

One of the best ways to improve your budget is to reduce the costs of the things you pay consistently. Every month, you will be paying an electric bill, so finding ways to reduce that bill could really result in a huge savings over time. Here are quick and easy ways to save on your electric bill. In addition to saving money, the electricity conservation tips for your home will also help you conserve energy at the same time.

by: CraftyGoat

Photo Courtesy: CraftyGoat

Electricity Conservation Tips for Your Home

  1. Try to limit air conditioning use.
    Just because the temperature is rising, doesn’t mean your air conditioning should be on every single day for the entire summer. For example, sometimes the morning can be cool so turn off the air, and open the windows. I’ll admit it that there have been times when I realized I’ve been working with the air on, and I’m dressed in sweat pants and a sweatshirt. Instead, dress in cool, breathable, cotton clothing that is loose fitting to stay cool without turning the air on.
  2. Draw the blinds.
    Whether you’re using your air conditioner or not, when you’re not home or don’t need the light, draw the blinds and curtains to reduce the sunlight from coming into your house. The sunlight will heat up your house, and having the blinds closed will keep things cooler. If you have your air on, this will prevent it from having to work overtime.
  3. Open those blinds.
    Yes, this is the exact opposite of the money saving electric tip above this. But, it depends on the situation. If it is cooler out and heat is not an issue and you are not putting your air conditioner on anyway, use natural light. This will eliminate having to use lamps and lights around your house.
  4. Power off.
    It is the oldest tip in the book and should be common sense, but for some reason, people still struggle to not turn things off when they’re not using them. Anytime you are leaving a room or not needing it, turn off the lights. Get in a habit of checking before you walk out the door that everything is off including the light, television, computer, radio, closet light, and anything else. Sometimes children and teens have a hard time doing this so turn it into a game or other type of reward. If someone catches another family member leaving a light on or an electronic on, they need to pay the other a quarter, do a certain chore, or something else that works for you and your family. Also, if your television is constantly running, the screen is more susceptible to fading or other damage. Leaving it off when you’re not using it is also beneficial for the longevity of the television.
  5. Unplug unused electronics.
    Maybe you have already mastered the art of turning off lights and other electronics to save money on the electric bill and also help out the environment. But don’t forget about those items that may not be on, but still use electricity. Anything that is plugged in is still using electricity. It may not be a huge difference, but overtime and depending on what you have plugged in, this could really make a difference. When I went through my house, I was shocked at all of the items I found plugged in that I wasn’t using. In the kitchen, an electric can opener, toaster, coffee pot, microwave, and blender were plugged in. In the living room and dining room, the television, a radio, a lamp that’s barely used, and an electronic picture frame are all plugged in. Other rooms had an electric shaver, electric toothbrush, televisions, phone chargers, camera chargers, computers, lamps, radios, a fan, a humidifier and a DVD player were all plugged in and not being used. If you are going to unplug items when you’re not using it, you do need to think about the item beforehand. For example, unplugging your cable box may cause shows not to record if you have a digital recorder and also may make it difficult for the schedule to load when you plug it back in. With my cable, when I unplug it and then plug it in again, it takes a few minutes to reload and the schedule doesn’t come up for a while. In this case, I always leave my cable box plugged in. Of course items with a clock, like a microwave, alarm clock, and coffee pot, will reset when you unplug it, too.
  6. Adjust the thermostat when you’re not home.
    When you leave the house, turn up the temperature on your thermostat or look into a programmable or learning thermostat. There’s no reason to keep the place super cool if you’re not there. Of course, if you have pets at home, you’ll need to be sure they are comfortable and safe so adjust the temperature accordingly.
  7. Skip the stove.
    When it’s hot outside and you have your air conditioner going, a stove is only going to make your house hotter and cause your air conditioner to work overtime. Instead, use a crock pot that uses little energy and won’t heat up the house a bunch. Also consider taking advantage of the warmer temperatures and enjoying the summer months by grilling outside. Besides not adding any heat to your house, if you’re outside grilling and eating you can turn your air conditioner up a bit.
  8. Skip the dryer.
    If you have the time and are able to, line dry your clothes. This is beneficial in two ways. First, it eliminates the electricity used from the dryer. Second, the dryer adds heat to your house, and if you’ve got the air conditioner rolling, it’s going to give it more work to do to keep your house cool. If you don’t want to line dry, opt for using the dryer early in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are cooler anyway.
  9. Check for efficiency.
    Be sure that everything is running efficiently to maximize your costs. Depending on the type of air conditioning you have, you may need to replace a filer or have it cleaned. It might be worth it to have a trusted professional come out to do a review. The same is true for light bulbs. While it may cost up front to change to more economically efficient light bulbs, the pay back could be worth it. Check what you’re using now and talk to your home repair store specialist on suggestions they can give you for efficient light bulbs.

How do you save money on your electric bill every month? What tips would you add?

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Comments to 9 Electricity Conservation Tips

  1. These are some great tips on how to save energy, especially during the summer when air conditioning is a necessity. Most of the time, however, air conditioning sucks up electricity when it is not functioning properly, which is why one should always make sure that the inner workings of the unit is working properly.

    Meg


  2. If you’re turning the AC on & off, be sure to turn it back on BEFORE the house gets unbearably hot, or more than a few degrees warmer than the thermostat setting. Otherwise, it will run all the longer at that point to cool the house back down, effectively wiping out any savings you might have gotten while it was off. This is doubly true if you live in a humid area.

    valleycat1


  3. Apart from above mentioned helpful tips you can insulate you walls and ceilings to save energy.Insulating home is a great way to keep your house warm in winters. Insulation not even helps to protect the house from outer cold but also helps to keep the home warm by not allowing inner heat to pass through walls. We can reduce 20% of the electricity consumption every year if seal up our houses properly. prepaid electric meters are also a good option to take

    Jonathan



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