What's a good way to save on electricity costs?

Question

We all know of solar panels, low power lightbulbs, good insulation, etc. Are there any new or unconventional ways of saving on electricity costs?

Answer 1

raise the a/c three to five degrees above what you normally run it at and you'll be suprised how quickly it'll add up.

Answer 2

Yes, some city (state) hydro companies are gradually moving to graduated cost per unit for different time of the day. However, it requires meters that can record time of the day usage of electricity. Normally a 24 hour period is divided into three or four parts based on peak, medium and low use periods. Electricity is then charged at cheaper rates at the non-peak hours and higher at peak hours.
Such meters are being installed in Ottawa since early last year, 2006.

Answer 3

I used to teach energy education at my old job. The devices that use the most electricity are the heater, clothes dryer, and iron. Your TV, computer, and possibly stereo draw current even when they're turned off, so they can respond instantly to the remote control. Plug them into a power strip, and turn off the switch when they're not in use. The cheapest way to save money on heat is to install weather stripping around your doors. Also install a digital thermostat, if you can - we saved 30% the first month, in the coldest part of winter.

Answer 4

putting clear plastic over the outside windows it stops the heat from escaping especially if you have single pane glass. Use cold water in the washing machine to wash instead of hot water. Buy a rack to hang clothes on so you don't always have to use the dryer all the time. Keep the heat down and wear extra clothing when your at home. Also turn the heat off when you leave your place. I hope these tips can help you. Good Luck.

Answer 5

yes there are and all the little things add up things like making sure filters are clean, the grate on the back of your fridge is clean, insulating pipes, insulating your house. cleaning the heating element and sediment out of your water heater, window insulation kits during the winter, turning things off rather than leaving them on, putting things on a timer. Not turning off the heat during the day but just a bit lower. Natural sky lighting,

Answer 6

Some of these may be gas related, depending on how your house is equipped.

Instead of adjusting the thermostat, keep it reasonable and wear more or less clothing, or open the doors and windows, or switch to cooler or warmer bedding. Use warmer pjs or bedding instead of an electric blanket.

Gas for stoves, water heaters, and home heat, tends to be cheaper than electricity.

Space heaters and fans are both pretty good electicity runner uppers. Having said that, ceiling fans are a big exception because they circulate air in the house from the ceiling down, often create breeze or fresh air feeling, and help you get the temp you want without working the H/AC unit too hard.

Buy appliances that have the energy star and set them to be as efficient as they can be.

Keep your fridge and freezer full. With more in there, the items are not only cooled by the appliance but the other cold items around them.

If you tumble dry your clothes, use the automatic dryer setting instead of timed dry. This is also better for your clothes. What happens is, the dryer runs exactly how long it needs to, to dry your clothes and then stops.

Also re: laundry do FULL loads and you CAN wash in cold unless there is a good reason not to. Don't select your temp strictly by color of the fabric.

Instead of plug in air fresheners, use sprays, or essential oils or candles, OR get a light bulb diffuser so when the lamp is on, it is working double duty. This is probably not much electricity but hey!

Dishes do not be washed in a machine, or even in hot water. Throw a cup of vinegar or a capful of bleach in your rinse water to sterilize them, and do them by hand.

Use sleep timers on TVs if you tend to fall asleep watching it...and in playrooms for kids who are in and out watching.

TEACH YOUR KIDS TO TURN OFF LIGHTS!

Shut down computers when done.

Switch to squiggle bulbs.

Do kitchen tasks the hard way...a term which I hate by the way, since keeping up with kitchen gizmos is ultimately a lot harder for me than using a knife. There is an electric gadget for every damn thing. Almost all of them are unnecessary unless you have mobility problems like arthritis. Get yourself a good knife.

I guess a really good way to save electricity...is to alter your lifestyle as much as possible to be in sync more with the cycles of nature. If you get up when the sun is up, and go to bed when the sun is down...well, you don't have to use lights and lights are the largest element of the electric bill. There is plenty of daylight to get things done on an average day and we waste it.

If you have multiple bulbs in a light fixture, consider replacing them with ONE bulb that is higher watts. For instance, 2 60 watt bulbs run on more than 1 100 watt bulb. OR you can just take them all out. Honestly, I can't say SQUIGGLE BULBS enough. I even give them as gifts...housewarming, wedding, etc. I think they are great. I don't have a single regular bulb in my house.

Answer 7

Other than electric heat in cold climates and a/c in warm ones, the biggest electricity consuming appliance is your clothes dryer. Running full bore, it can be running 4 KW (200 W motor for fan and drum, 3800 W element). Try hanging your clothes after washing. Even if you hang them for 24 hr during the humid time of the year (varies by region) you can markedly cut the dryer time.

Answer 8

Covering your windows with plastic during the winter is a good way to help keep the heat in. Also, do your laundry in the evening. Running the dryer when it isn't peak hours helps.

Answer 9

You can save by going on budget billing. Just call your company and ask them how to get on it. Also some other ways is to install dimmers and keep you heat on 72 and never any higher. It saves some money. Just invest in blankets LOL. Good Luck.

Answer 10

Here is a novel idea. Turn electric heater temps down, air conditioner temps up and, turn off lights when not in a room.

Answer 11

Turn your heater down and turn off the lights that you are not using. I have a 1800 sq ft house and my bill has never been over 200 bucks