Lower Monthly Bills

Lower Electricity Bills

The cost of powering America is increasing. In the future electric companies will have to power more homes while upgrading failing equipment. Add on inflation and more power hungry electronics, and you can guarantee that the price of electricity is on the rise.

Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat costs anywhere from $25 to $75. While this is a small cost, it can save hundreds a year in electric power bills. Not running your air conditioner or furnace when you are not home saves hours of wasted electricity or natural gas. Set the thermostat to turn on the air conditioner or furnace an hour before you are home and you can still live in comfort.

Electric Blankets / Blankets

Want more savings with a programmable thermostat; use more blankets or an electric warming blanket in the winter. Set the thermostat to allow the house to cool down when you are asleep. Then set it to turn the furnace back on a half hour before you get up.

Turn off the computer and put it in sleep mode

The best way to decrease that electric bill is not to leave the computer on. If you are leaving the house then turn off the computer. This is a big electricity waster that no one thinks about. A computer will burn 150 to 300 Watts of power just sitting idle. If you go to sleep or work and leave it on, it will add up to a couple of Kilowatts a day. Depending on your electricity rates, this can save about $5 a month by itself off that electric bill. By setting a sleep mode, the computer will turn itself off when you don't use it for a while. This is the best way to ensure it is off when not needed.

Turn off the lights

Leaving lights on can waste another $5 to $10 a month. If you leave a room simply turn off the light. This is especially true if you leave the house.

Use Florescent Lights

One of the best ideas for lowering electricity bills is the florescent light bulb. A bulb that produces the same amount of light as a standard bulb with 1/3 the power. I replaced 6 of my highly used bulbs a few years ago in my apartment. My energy bill fell by $10 a month. Within a year I had easily paid for the lights. For those of you who don't like to use fluorescent lights indoor, consider using fluorescent lights for the outside of your house.

Open Windows, Close Vents and Close Doors

Be smart with your heating and cooling. Keep the doors to your house closed and train your kids to as well. Not heating or cooling the outside air will save money. If it is cool outside, open the windows and turn off the AC. My neighbor will run the air conditioning on a 65 degree day because his house is warm; what a waste. In addition, fresh air is considered healthier for you.

If you do not use a room like a guest room, close the vents and doors. This allows you to cool or warm the part of the house that you are living in with less energy. If it is summer, close the vents in your basement. There is no reason to cool rooms that are already cool.

Caulk Windows

Caulk windows to cut down outside air from getting into the house. There is removable caulk that you can push into the seems of windows and remove it when summer comes.

 

Don't use the Dishwasher's Heat Dry Cycle

The heat dry cycle only wastes energy. Dishes will air dry within a few hours. Run your dishwasher at night on air dry and your dishes are dry and ready to go the next morning. If there is a little water in some bowls, just dry them with a rag.

Replace Old Appliances

While not the cheapest solution, this could be a practical one. If you have been wanting to replace a fridge, air conditioner, or water heater; do it. If you do buy a new appliance, spend a few extra dollars and get an energy efficient one. Spending $40 today to save $30 more a year is worth it.

Solar Lights

If you are looking for outdoor lighting, think about solar. While solar lighting tends not to be as bright and maybe be a little bit more expensive (check eBay), they do not require additional power and could save you a couple of dollars a month and effort stringing wires.

Attic Fan

Check attic temperatures. If they are over 120 F in the summer, then you might want to look into an attic fan. An attic fan will allow warmer attic air to flow out of attic. Warmer air in the house will than be pushed into the attic keeping the house cooler. For a few hundred dollars, a solar attic fan can be purchased. This saves the hassle of running wires in the attic, and requires no electricity that you will pay for.

Buy a Power Meter

The practicality is up for question, but a power meter is an interesting device. If you are curious about how much power devices in the home are using, try getting a Power Meter. There is an interesting review at A True Review about these.