What are some ways of saving on electricity costs?

Question

Other than turning lights off during the day and using natural light because I already do that.

Answer 1

This little fact will save you a ton of money.
Every time you turn on a light switch, it uses 30 minutes worth of electrical power to turn it on.

Leave the light switch on, if you're going to go back into the room within 30 minutes. Otherwise you will run up your bill needlessly.

Just remember, switching it on is the same as letting it stay on for 30 minutes.

Every few years the local TV news gives the public advice on how to lower our electric bill and this is the biggest mistake we all make. Turning lights off automaticly, just to turn around and turn it back on again.

They say, the biggest user of electrical power is NOT the AC but our refridgerators. Who knew?
Try to keep your fridge on a lower setting.

When you're going to be away from the house for awhile, don't turn your AC off or crank it so low, that it doesn't come on.
The reason for this is, it takes SO much power for it to cool the house down after you come home.
It causes it to run forever, to reach a comfortable temperature again.
Just set it at a slightly higher temperature setting, so the house doesn't get TOO hot, while you're gone.

Flourescent bulbs ALSO lower your bill. They use a LOT LESS power to light a room. They might not give off a very attractive light but if you're watching your pennies, it's worth it.

Also, if your hot water is scolding hot, when you let it run for just a few moments, lower the temperature on your hot water heater. That TOO helps.

Seal off any cracks around doors and windows where cool air or your warm air (from the heater) will just escape through and end up outside. Otherwise, your heating and AC will run constantly.
Go to HOME DEPOT and get weather stripping. It's cheap and very easy to install.

Use your microwave oven instead of your conventional oven, as often as you can. They use a lot less electricity.

Don't leave the refrigerator door open for too long. The cold air escapes and then it will run forever, trying to get the right temperature back.

I hope this helps. These tips have always worked for me.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

Hello! Here are some low- or no-cost tips to save electricity from the Edison Electric Institute:

1. Set thermostat at 78 degrees or higher when the house is occupied, and at 85 degrees when vacant (save 1 – 2 percent per degree raised on cooling costs).

2. Regularly clean/replace the air conditioner’s air filter (save up to 5 percent on annual energy costs).

3. Keep the door and vents closed in unused rooms (save up to 3 percent on cooling costs).

4. On hot, sunny days, keep the curtains closed on windows facing south and west (save 2 – 4 percent on cooling costs).

5. Caulk and weather-strip around windows and doors (save 1 – 4 percent on cooling costs).

6. Wash/dry full loads of clothes and use cold water as much as possible (save 2 – 4 percent on energy costs).

7. Set the water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees (save up to 10 percent on water heating costs; check by placing a thermometer under a tap).

8. Use a microwave oven instead of a regular oven (save up to 50 percent on cooking costs).

9. Install compact fluorescent lights in high-use fixtures (save about 66 percent on lighting cost per fixture).

10. Take advantage of the new federal tax credits when making energy efficiency improvements to your home: http://www.energytaxincentives.org/

Answer 3

Contact your electric company and see if they'll give you a discount for not using power (like doing laundry, emptying your hot water heater, baking at 400 degrees, etc) during peak hours - usually like 12-5pm.

Also, check all your seals around your windows and doors and replace any that aren't doing their job. It will help save on both heating and cooling costs.

Answer 4

Save energy costs by doing laundry in the p.m. energy costs are cheaper at night than in the day.
Avoid peak times (5 p.m. when everyone is getting off work).

Answer 5

- Don't open the fridge all the time.
- Don't use dryer that much, use sunlight to dry
- Use energy saving light bulb.
- Set your thermostat to higher temperature on the air conditioning

Answer 6

go to wal-mart and buy some weather stripping and put it around your windows and your doors and you will be amaze what you save my electric went from 240 to 127 big difference and I just put it around the door that is where the majority of the elctric goes out~~~~Good luck