6 Easy and Inexpensive ways to cut your electric bill

How to save on your electric bill!

1. Programmable Thermostat
   • Save as much as 20%-30% on your heating or cooling costs by allowing for multiple daily settings and automatically adjusting when the outside temperature changes.
2. Ceiling Fans
   • Moving air tends to feel cooler, allowing for higher summertime thermostat settings. According to EREN, the effect is equivalent to lowering the air temperature by about 4 F (2 C), and using less energy than air conditioners in doing so. Set the unit on reverse and it will bring the warm air down.
3. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL’s)
   • CFL’s use up to 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer, according to Home Energy Saver.
4. Energy-efficient appliances
   • Among household appliances, the refrigerator is likely your biggest energy consumer, especially if it’s more than 15 years old. It can account for up to 9% of your energy costs alone. Again, use the Energy Star site for a list of energy-efficient models if you’re looking to replace yours.
5. Hot water jackets
   • Heating water is the third-biggest home-energy cost and typically accounts for 14%-20% of your energy bill. Because hot water jackets usually sell for $10 to $20, shipping charges for buying them online can easily increase their cost by 50% or more. It’s best to use the Web to find offline deals in this case. At the Home Depot site, I found a $10 Frost King vinyl-cased fiberglass jacket for water heaters up to 60 gallons and used the online site to find the closest store.
6. Aerating, low-flow faucets and showerhead
7. Other ways to save
   • If you use space heaters instead of central heating, you can save nearly $1200/year!
   • If you use fans instead of air conditioning, you can save about $600/year.
   • If you dry your clothes on a line instead of in a dryer, you can save $150/year.
   • If you wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot, you can save $150/year.
   • If you replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescents, you can save nearly $100/year.
   • If you get rid of your television, you can save $75/year.
   • If you put your computer in sleep mode when you’re not using it, you can save $60/year.