How to Save Money on Your Electricity Bill! - By: Tex

Most of us are not looking forward to our next electricity bill so we turn to the internet for answers. Here's the big problem, the majority of the ideas out there are rehashed tips we've all heard time and time again. I'm not saying those tips are not any good because most of them are it's just if you are anything like me I think you're going to want what I've found.

How often has your electricity bill arrived for you to grab it and simply throw it on the table fearing the outstanding balance in the pay now section? While electricity prices go through the roof, people all across the country are feeling the pinch in their pockets and are looking for ways to reduce electricity bills. Plus, with the economy the way it is today, it seems to get harder every month to make ends meet so every dollar you can save on power bills is an extra dollar in your bank account which is now able to be utilized for something more beneficial.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways you can dramatically shrink your electricity bill that won't really alter the way you live your day to day life. By implementing 2 or 3, or even all, of the following 8 tips on how to reduce electricity bills, not only will you be saving money, but you will save energy, too!

1. Try setting your water heater to 140m degrees or lower. This will not only save energy, but water as well because if your water heater temperature is too high, the system will add cold water as a safety measure to prevent burns. Keep in mind that if you have small children or a baby at home, the recommendation is to set the thermostat to no more than 120 degrees to prevent scalds on their delicate skin - this will actually save you even more money on your power bill.

2. Speaking of thermostats: install and electric thermostat and set it 1 - 5 degrees lower than you normally would. For every degree lower, you will save 5% of your energy consumption.

3. Did you know that Approx 20% of your home's heat will leak out from your windows and doors? When you use weather stripping to seal the doors and windows in your home, as well as a clear caulk to seal cracks in floorboards and window panes, you will be on your way to reducing electricity bill significantly. Think about this, if you simply keep that twenty percent of heat, you could quite possibly lower your thermostat even more than the 1-5 degrees in tip #2 in order to save even more money and energy!

4. This is a big one: when something is not in use, TURN IT OFF -- not just on standby, either. This is for items such as personal computers, DVD payers and VCRs if you have them, printers, cell phone chargers and other such electronic equipment that sucks up energy like crazy. The thing is, these types of devices consume up to thirty five percent of the energy in your home when you leave them on. For your ease, you could use power strips to plug these items in to and when they are not in use, just flip the switch on the power strip and you will be able to turn off multiple pieces of equipment all at the same time.

5. By using insulation in your roof, attic and walls you will save. By insulating your home, you are literally creating a barrier that helps prevent significant energy loss.

6. Ok, I know you've heard this one before but have you done it yet? Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescent Edison style bulbs as soon as you can CFL bulbs actually reduce your energy consumption through light-bulbs up to 75% and since they last about 5 years, you can expect the lifetime savings of these bulbs to be between $400 and $1500. Also, you should keep in mind that the government has passed legislation that will phase out the incandescent bulb by 2012 in order to help reduce greenhouse gases and save energy. If you start now you will already start saving money and energy.

7. When washing your clothes, make sure you only wash full loads. In addition, put your washing machine settings on the coolest wash possible for your material, only allow the amount of water necessary for your items and set the cycle to the shortest possible one that will get everything clean. This will save you quite a bit of energy as well.

8. Make sure you get your appliances checked and serviced every year. Items such as a furnace or hot water heater can develop loose gaskets and leaks that will need to be fixed. By having a qualified serviceman out to inspect, not only could you prevent the cost of an unexpected breakdown, but you can ensure your appliances run resourcefully.

Without a doubt, many of these ways to reduce your electricity bill actually won't cost you anything, yet the rewards are indeed measurable.

About the Author

Terry Metcalfe writing on behalf of the Group Source range of websites offering bandsaws, forklift trucks alongside a wealth of services for the construction industry.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Tex/61424

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