Top 5 Ways To Save Money On Your Electric Bill

Electricity is a modern blessing, but it can come attached to a bill. If you didn’t get a 2009 cost of living raise, you’re probably seeking out ideas on how to reduce your living expenses. Rather than seeking to detach from the grid, which can cost thousands, here are a few simple ways to lower the cost of your electric bill.

Disengage When Not In Use

This can mean shutting off the lights when you’re not in a room, or unplugging appliances. Appliances like computers, TVs, and kitchen gadgets have ghost loads that continue to draw energy when plugged in. By getting into the habit of only using items when you need them, you can reduce your electric bill. Get a surge suppressor and plug your appliances into it, then shut them all off at night with one click.

Replace Bulbs With Compact Fluorescents

These bulbs can reduce your energy usage for lights up to 75%. They last 10 times longer than regular incandescent bulbs, keeping you from replacing bulbs as often. They cost more but will end up paying for themselves in as little as six months. They come in small and large sizes, so that you can replace even modern chandelier bulbs with tiny compact fluorescents. Each bulb you replace can save you as much as $30 dollars during the lifetime use. Multiply that by the number of bulbs you replace and you can see that savings really add up.

Replace Your Refrigerator

If your refrigerator was bought in 2001, you can benefit from a newer refrigerator. Newer models are up to 40% more efficient with energy demands, as long as they are labeled “Energy Star.” It can save, on average, about $50 per year as a refrigerator accounts for 15% of your total electric bill. Even though it costs several hundred dollars to replace your refrigerator, check with your state to see what rebates are available for people upgrading their refrigerators to obtain further savings.

Weatherize Your Home

Electric heat can be expensive if your home isn’t properly insulated. It’s an easy thing to determine whether you need more insulation in the attic or the walls. Your windows should be checked for drafts and leaks. Caulk areas that need it. If you can’t replace your windows with energy efficient ones, you can always use plastic thermal window coverings during the winter to reduce the electric bill for as little as $15 for four windows.

Check Your Vents

The number of vents that are open or needed changes from winter to summer. You can shut off an entire room that is not in use in the winter, and save that energy for where it is most needed. If you don’t mind a cold bathroom or basement, shut those vents off and leave the warmth for the rest of the house. Keep vents free from obstruction from furniture and your heating system and filters clean for maximum performance.