Save On Your Electricity Bill With These Ideas

One of the easiest and quickest ways to save on electricity bills is to change out old inefficient incandescent light bulbs. There is of course a higher initial cost when retrofitting a group of light bulbs, but the energy savings in the long run are definitely worth it.

The two main options for energy efficient lighting are compact fluorescent light bulbs and LED light bulbs. They each boast about 75% increased energy efficiency over incandescent light bulbs (meaning that replacing a 100 watt incandescent requires only a 25 to 27 watt CFL or LED light bulb). Compact fluorescent light bulbs are currently a better choice, as they cost less than LED light bulbs and have been around longer, hence they are more refined. You can read more about the specific merits and demerits of CFLs and LED light bulbs in another hub of mine.

Whichever type of energy efficient light bulb you choose, you can expect to save on your electricity bill. Figure out what you're currently spending on lighting each month, and then reduce that number by around 75% to get an estimate of the difference if you switch the majority of your lamps to compact fluorescent light bulbs or LED light bulbs.

Heating and cooling make up the largest portion of electricity bills, but their impact can be reduced by taking some simple steps.  You can cut a lot of heating and cooling by turning the thermostat up or down when you're away from home.  In summer, turn it up to around 80; the house doesn't need to be crisp and cool when no one is there!

Conversely, in winter you can save a fair amount by turning your thermostat down to around 60 when you're away from the house.  Be careful not to go lower than that, as lower temperatures could risk water pipes freezing and similar catastrophes.  By turning the thermostat up or down (depending on season) when no one is home, you can cut down a lot of unnecessary energy usage.

In addition to being mindful of the thermostat, make certain you clean or replace air filters on a regular basis.  Dust and dirt and all other manner of miniscule detritus can clog them and cause a significant reduction in efficiency, which turns into higher electricity bills.  Similarly, adequate sealing of windows and doors is very important.  Leaks in insulation can reduce heating and cooling efficiency by a lot, and cost you more money.

Further solutions to saving on electricity bills include simple things like closing the blinds to prevent the sun from fully heating up a house during summer.  Optimally insulated windows with full coverage blinds can do a lot to reduce energy used for cooling.

Change the times that you do household chores.  Things like dishwashers, ovens, clothes driers, etc. create immense amounts of heat that must then be cooled.  Do these things in the evening, when the sun has gone down if possible.  This avoids double strain on cooling during the daytime hours.

Another good idea is to use fans.  They can help make a room feel cooler than it is, and cost very little to operate.  Nonetheless, make certain to turn them off if you're leaving a room for a while, because while they make us feel cooler, they don't actually provide cooling for a room.

Unplug devices that use a lot of energy if you're not using them!  Even when turned off, they consume fairly large amounts of electricity just by being plugged in.  Unplug them, and you can save even more on your electricity bill.

These are just a few of the many ways you can save on your electricity bill. Some of them might be a bit bothersome, but if you're ever in a situation where every penny counts, utilizing these ideas will net you some noticeable drops in energy costs.