Does anyone have tips to help lower electricty bills?

Question

The warm weather is right around the corner (it's actually already in the 80's here in GA) and I do not want to turn the air conditioning on yet because we still have winter gas bills for another month. What are some things that can be done around the house to help cut down on electricity usage? Any tips and advice to help cut down the bills would be great!

Answer 1

Unplugg electric items that are generally plugged in whether used or not. For example, if you have a lamp plugged in that you rarely use, unplug it as it is drawing electricity. Also, keep your freezer stocked, it helps keep foods frozen without drawing a lot of electricity. Change your bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs have been substantially improved over the years and they now can be screwed directly into most fixtures. The bulbs, which sell for about $3 apiece, last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and can save $30 or more in energy costs over a bulb's lifetime.
Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Industry experts say 68 degrees is the lowest indoor temperature that most people find comfortable. For each degree you lower your thermostat, you can save 3% on your heating bill.
Turn down the temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which is considered adequate or comfortable for most household needs. Lowering your water heater to 120 degrees from 150 degrees can lower your utility bill by $1.80 a month. Another water-temperature tip: Wash your clothes in the coolest water possible. About 80% of the energy used to run your washer comes from heating the water.
Keep fireplace dampers closed to lessen heating and cooling loss. An open or poorly sealed damper can draw air up the chimney even when the fireplace isn't in use.
Have your furnace maintained regularly by a professional, and keep your furnace filter and vents clean. Dirty furnace filters and vents cause the furnace to burn less efficiently.
Keep the curtains open in rooms with southern exposure during the winter and closed during the summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing windows receive the most intense light in both the summer and winter. Letting in that light in the winter will help keep your house warm; blocking it in the summer will help cool things off.
Don't run kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans for long periods. Exhaust fans will remove heated or air-conditioned air from your home if they run for more than 15 minutes after you're done cooking or running the water. You might also consider replacing your current fan to save on costs: Energy Star ventilation fans use 65% less energy on average than standard models.

Answer 2

Good Morning Pig Dream...I know exactly what you are talking about especially with these high pricing in voltage use! One thing I have found in conserving usage is make sure if you are gone during the day close all mini blinds or reg. blinds so the heat of the sun won't bear down through the windows. Close curtains during the heat of the day, this will keep your house or apartment cooler. Keep all appliances turned off, except the fridge of course. This means the putor too...lol. Check the insullation in your home if you can. Run a fan at night which will keep your home cool and through the morning hrs to where if you go to work you can turn it off before you leave. keep only the lights on where needed. And if you can, wash clothes in the evening hrs rather than in the day. Your dryer will push out heat to where it will make your home warmer during the daylight hrs. Try to keep your AC on 78 when it starts getting that time for the AC. If you have ceiling fans, use them before turning on the AC. If you have to bake in the oven, try baking after the sun goes down. The oven also pushes out alot of heat to where during the day it will make it more hot. Try using the microwave more than the oven during the summer season.If you own a dishwasher, try using it just one time per day. Hope this has helped with your question. Have a good day!

Answer 3

If you consider your refregerator, your computer, your television, and many other household items will all heat your house, you could consider scaling back on the amount you use them!

You could turn down the cold setting on your fridge, and keep the usage on your other appliances, and this could help!

I actually live in CO, and all we have to do is open our windows, but fans help, and you could also try leaving out a large amount of water. The water will actually soak up the heat in the air, and will humidify the air around you, potentially making it feel cooler.

Good luck!

Answer 4

replacing all your incandescent bulbs with energy star flourescents will save you around $60-100 a year off your energy bills on average.

keeping the house well ventilated can often make it feel 5-10 degrees cooler than outside - open ALL windows and doors in all rooms of the house, not just individual ones.

Answer 5

We put solar screens on our house and that really cuts down on the electric bill in the summer. If your house is in the direct sun in the summer, you might want to put a reflective radiant barrier in your attic to keep it cooler in the summer. You can buy and install the radiant barrier yourself to save money.