what is the best way to conserve my electric bill? in the winter it's always expensive due to my heating costs. i have electric heat btw. now my question is should i leave my heat at a steady temp around 70 or so? or should i turn it down during the day and then up to 70 at night?
2007-12-01 13:31:53 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment ➔ Green Living
To save on your heating bill in the winter, don't run your electric heat.
Use a wood stove, if your landlord will allow it....hook it up to your chimney, if there is one, and get wood for free from friends who have trees.
Now, I know that is not practical if you don't have all those circumstances lined up.
So try this: don't put your regular heat up high....keep it low, and get yourself an energy efficient space heater to put near you when you are watching TV or whatever....this way you are not wasting money heating a large space with expensive equipment....use the small energy efficient space heater to warm up your personal space.
You don't need the heat up high during the night because you are under the covers and you have body heat on your side.
2007-12-01 13:45:12 · answer #1 · answered by Digital Age 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Set your thermostat low and turn it up when you are cold. If you dress warm around the house you would be surprised at how low it is comfortable. You shouldn't need to heat the house at night when you are in bed, if you are cold get more or better covers. (an open sleeping bag works) You should also turn the thermostat down when you will be gone most of the day. If you have a programmable thermostat this works great if not it shouldn't take to long to reheat the house. Some people think it is cheaper to leave the thermostate on your desired tempature rather than let the house cool then reheat-----its not true.
2007-12-01 23:27:36 · answer #2 · answered by paul 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can turn it down quite a bit at night if you purchase an electric blanket for the bed and dont mind waking up to a chilly house. And you can get a programable thermostat that will turn it up for you before you get up. Also for leaving during the day etc.
same for the water heater it can run on a timer and turn off or very low at night when all are in bed, newer water heaters can be had with this type of energy saving electronics on them.
Check on your insulation too if you live in a older house double glazing and sealing cracks in old siding and windows.
I lived in old ones from time to time there was the one where if a good strong gust of wind came by any candles or open flames would flicker WITH doors and windows closed even.
2007-12-01 21:55:54 · answer #3 · answered by vladoviking 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lot of the suggestions here are very good. I'd just like to add that make sure your home is well insulated. Buy some good weather stripping to seal the cracks around your doors. The less cold air that gets in, the less your heater will have to work.
Also check to see if your windows are leaking in any air at all. If you can feel a slight cold draft if you put your hand up to the edge of your windows, there are these plastic sealers you can buy to put over your windows during the winter that help keep the air out. The best solution would be to buy new, energy efficient windows, but those are expensive.
2007-12-02 00:53:58 · answer #4 · answered by qu1ck80 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Assuming you're not home, you absolutely should get a programmable thermostat that will turn it down during the day, and back up just before you get home. You might also set it to go down some at night, when you're in bed.
Heat flows like water, going downhill. It goes from warmer areas to cooler. The greater the difference in temperature, the faster it flows.
By reducing the temperature during the day (or night), you reduce the amount of heat flowing out from your house. So there's less heat the heater needs to replace.
Depending on exactly how you set it it should reduce your bill 10-25%. See:
http://www.fypower.org/res/tools/products_results.html?id=100133
Other things are to seal air leaks, and increase your insulation.
2007-12-01 22:01:04 · answer #5 · answered by Bob 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Will it is good that you use electric heat, I can use gas or electric and I use electric. turn it down on like 40 then get up and turn it on 70 for the day, even when you go out turn it down. my bill is like 120 dollars but if I where to use oil it would be like 200.
2007-12-05 05:01:04 · answer #6 · answered by Hil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should lower it by a couple of degrees you probably wont know the difference and you will save quire a lot of energy. you should also make sure that your home is properly insulated and that your water heater is set no higher then 120 degrees F.
there are more easy things that you can do here
http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando/index2.html
2007-12-01 21:48:11 · answer #7 · answered by Gengi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is a suggestion. Go to www.energystar.gov or eere.energy.gov Both those web sites can help.
2007-12-02 08:23:09 · answer #8 · answered by bigg_tomm_2000 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
unplug machines that you are not using
like washing machines
t.v.
computer
even if you turn them off and they are they still plugged in
they are absorbing electricity
try it
it works!!! :)
2007-12-02 00:32:50 · answer #9 · answered by Elaine 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋