Tips to save on your electric Bill:
The big “thing” now is energy savings and saving money on your electric and gas bills (I’ll include tips on gas in another post). One thing we have all probably been hearing about is people saying that they have started unplugging things and seeing a big difference in their bills. Well the truth is 10% of your Electric does come from “phantoms” or items that hold a charge even when not in use.
Some “Phantoms” are listed below:
• TVs, VCRs, DVD players and DVRs (yes we must leave these on to record our favorite shows )
• Cell phone chargers or other battery chargers
• Clock radios, Alarm Clocks
• Computers and printers
• Coffeemakers
• Power strips
• Microwave ovens
• Answering machines
• Any device with a remote control
• Any device with a clock
• Any device that is programmable such as thermostats
• Any device with a power light or standby indicator light
Using a Smart Strip Power switch such as
BITS LIMITED LCG3 10-Outlet Smart Strip
could save you money and energy, it is a little bit pricier (around $30-$40) then a regular strip but well worth it for the environment and your electric bill. What’s really cool about it is it has some “hot” outlets for items such as your DVR where it always needs to be on. It allows the TV, VCR, DVD player and DVR to be plugged into one power strip and when the items are not in use they are “off” and not sucking up any electricity except for the “hot” items. I just ordered one for myself, I will be testing it to see if I notice a difference.
I found this one for $31.98, cheapest that I could find plus FREE Shipping!
Other ways to save:
Heating and Cooling: Most households use the bulk of their energy for heating and cooling, up to 44% according to the DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
Programmable thermostats can reduce energy wasted heating or cooling a house when no one is home or everyone's asleep.
According to the Home Energy Saver site, Energy Star programmable thermostats can save as much as 20% to 30% on your heating or cooling costs by allowing for multiple daily settings and automatically adjusting when the outside temperature changes. Programming your thermostat to give your air conditioner a break for the eight hours you're at work could save you about $180 a year, according to EnergyStar.gov guidelines.
For more Thermostat information visit energystar.gov, also look for special offers and rebates on the site.
http://www.energystar.govSeal up your home. cooled air can leak through cracks along window and door frames. Invest in some caulk and weather-stripping to plug up these drafts as you notice them. Stopping those leaks and making sure your home is properly insulated could save you money. Insulation materials are also eligible for the 30% energy efficiency federal tax credit, up to $1,500 for all improvements combined.
May sound silly but close your blinds. It's a simple concept: Rooms get hotter without shades or curtains to block the sunlight.
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. This is good, because they're also more expensive initially but WELL worth the investment, they last a long time and you don’t have to worry about changing them as often.
On the higher end of saving you can opt to go with 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. Do the research and you might end up actually saving money by buying a new appliance.
