10 Easy Steps to Lowering Electricity Use

Do you hate looking at your electric bill when it comes each month? If so, you might be glad to hear there are some things you can do to lower it. Here, in particular, are 10 easy things to do.

1)Turn off any lights not currently in use. A trip through the house to turn off lights that nobody is using will only take a minute or two. But it can save real money.

Likewise, remind all family members, if he or she is the last person in the house and they decide to leave, to make a trip through the house and make sure all unneeded lights have been turned off before they leave. Also, replace any burnt-out bulbs with the new low-energy ones. They can last as much as three to five years under regular use.

2)Wait until the dishwasher is completely full before you run it. Running it half full wastes energy, water and money.

3)When the temperature outside is nice, open the windows instead of turning on the air conditioning. Fresh air is good for you and it will make a definite difference in your electric bill.

4)Change your air-conditioning filter every month. The AC has to work harder when clogged with dust. This costs you potentially a lot of money! An average filter will only run a few dollars, so this is definitely a good investment.

5)Those who live in mobile homes should put skirting around the bottom. This keeps the home cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

6)During the day, keep your blinds or curtains closed. This is a good way to keep the hot sun out on those warm summer days, without the need to waste money with the air conditioning. Likewise, try using a ceiling fan. It uses very little energy and does a good job at cooling many rooms. And then in the winter, many have a reverse feature that will allow you to push warm air down into the room.

7)Replace all weather stripping on the doors and windows. This will keep cold or hot air from coming through, thus keeping your home at a moderate temperature without much energy use.

8)Set the thermostat higher in the summer and cooler in the winter whenever you are away. No need to use a lot of energy when nobody is there to enjoy it! And as long as the temperature is kept at a moderate level, the house should cool or warm up rather quickly once you get back home.

9)When your computer monitor is not in use turn it off. It can use a lot of energy needlessly. Do the same when the TV is not in use. You would be amazed how many people leave their TV on at all times, even when they leave the house.

10)Wash your clothes in cold water rather than hot. Your clothes will usually still get clean, yet you have saved the energy used to warm up the water.

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