A few easy changes today can have you saving some money for tomorrow.
A typical household spends around $1600 per year on electric consumption. Some homeowners even spend much more while a few may spend less. In my opinion, any amount is too much! Did you know that a large portion of what you are paying for in your electric bill is never used? Let us put it in other words: Energy is wasted month after month right at your very home. Thus, you are spending on something that you never even use. For example, when you leave home, your air conditioner or heater is probably working. What about the closet lights that you forget to turn off?
To make up for this, here are the changes you can do in order to get the most out of every cent you pay for in your electric bill:
Turn off unnecessary devices. If you are not watching your television, never leave it on. This also goes with your stereo. Learn how to turn them off if you don’t need them. Turn off the lights if you are leaving the room as well. Also switch off the air conditioning system if you don’t plan to return for a while. In the summer, I like to push my AC thermostat to the 80 degree mark. That may sound hot but according to EnergyStar, you can save up to $185 a year by adjusting your thermostat whenever you leave your home for 8 hours or longer. After all, there’s no need to heat or cool your empty home to the same temperature as when you’re home, right? Heating and cooling system consume a large portion of your electric bill so you might as well do some necessary changes with them. If for instance you do not want to enter a cold home, you can purchase an inexpensive programmable thermostat (way less than $185) for your heating and cooling system. In this way, you do not have to leave the heating system running all day. All you have to do is to set the time when you want your heating system to work and you will save a lot of money.
If you don’t use your computer monitor, turn it off. It’s not enough to rely on your screensaver. It uses energy too. Like the television, it consumes electricity when you are not using it.
Keep your receptacles free. Unplug all your chargers. Yes, they consume small electric current but if you leave them plugged in day in and day out for months, you will feel their effects on your electric bills. Remember that these little things, when piled up, can be big.
During cooler days, use the sun to warn up the house. Yes, I said the sun. Passive solar energy is one of the best ways to heat your home during the cool fall and cold winter months. The sun is free so open your drapes and windows and let your heating system rest for a while. Close the windows and drapes at night.
Instead of incandescent lights, use new and improved LED lighting. LED lighting produces more light but consume less electricity.
If you don’t want to turn the lights on and off every time you go in and out of the room, you might want to get some timers, dimmers and motion sensors to do the job for you. They are worth the investment.
Refrain from using hot water when washing your clothes. Also, it will save you money if you wash full loads as compared to partial loads. Concerning your dishwasher, make sure you wash full loads as compared to a partially empty dishwasher. Just don’t do like I do and overfill or you will truly “pay” the price. There is a reason that I have been married 32 years.
Doing these things doesn’t mean you deprive yourself from freely using the electricity you need. It only means that you are wisely spending every cent you pay for in electric bills.
Click here for a free energy saver’s guide from energy.gov.
If you have an electrical problem, give Ozburn Electrical Contractors, Inc. a call today at 1-770-784-1618. Visit our website at www.OzburnElectrical.com.
Happy Savings,
Glenn Ozburn
