10 Tips to Save Money on Your Electric Bill

Since many people are on tight budgets these days, you are probably looking for ways to slash your budget. Use the tips below to save money on your electric bill.

1. Chances are, at least one person in your family tends to leave lights or the TV on when they are not in the room. Get a jar and place it on the kitchen counter. Tell your family that anyone caught leaving a room for more than a couple minutes (such as to go grab a snack or use the restroom) and leaving the lights or TV on has to put a quarter in the jar. You will now have ‘savings’ in your jar and on your bill since most people will soon start remembering to turn off the lights rather than donate a quarter.
2. If you are not home at night but want to keep your house lit like you are at home, do not leave on lights in several rooms. Instead, put lights on timers and have them turn off and on at different intervals to simulate someone being home. This way, you can leave less lights on at any one time.
3. Invest in power surge strips that shut off nonessential appliances such as TVs automatically after a period of not being used.
4. Unless you must leave your computer on at all times, be sure to shut it down when not in use.
5. Use compact fluorescent or LED light bulbs wherever possible.
6. When replacing appliances, be sure to buy those that carry the energy star seal to get the most energy-efficient versions.
7. If your appliances are old, especially if it’s a refrigerator, investigate whether the energy savings of a newer model would quickly pay back on your investment.
8. Unplug small appliances such as blow dryers or toaster ovens when you are not using them.
9. Have your utility company perform an audit of your home. The advice you receive is generally worth many times the small fee that you will pay to have this done.
10. When air conditioning season hits, remember that the goal is to keep people in the house from being too hot if they are dressed in light clothing. Yes, coming in to a blast of cool air when you walk inside from sweltering heat can feel great, but you can be reasonably comfortable at a warmer thermostat setting.

Use the tips above to cut your electric bill, and enjoy the savings!

Related posts:

1. 11 Ways to Lower Your Summer Electric Bills
2. Leaving Computers on Overnight Costs $2.8 Billion a Year in US Alone
3. 12 Ways to Save Water in Your Home
4. 13 Steps to Greening Your Home
5. Energy Saving Laundry Tips: Hot Water vs. Cold Water Washing