5 Easy Ways to Reduce Electric Bills

Everyone likes to save money. Buying items on sale, two-for-one promotions and other marketing schemes are all around us. Why not keep the money closer to home and have the pennies add up by saving on the monthly electric bill.

Appliances

Almond and avocado appliances are not only out of date, they are inefficient at best. It may seem odd to spend hundreds of dollars on a new appliance but getting up to date energy efficient appliances with the Energy Star rating can save money and the environment in the long run.

According to the Energy Star site, “Energy Star qualified refrigerators are 20% more energy efficient than the minimum federal standard”. In terms of cash flow, a new fridge will save you money on your electrical bill. Replacing a 1980’s refrigerator with an up to date model with an Energy Star rating can save around $100 per year on the average utility bill.

It is not just refrigerators. Think also about freezers, dishwashers, washers and dryers. New efficient models can save consumers hundreds of dollars a year and using less electricity means reducing the impact on the environment.

Simple Solutions

Investing in big ticket items, such as new appliances, may not be in the future for some home owners. Consumers can continue to reduce on their monthly bill by doing little things to save money.

• Programmable thermostats are an easy and simple way to reduce wasted energy in the home. Having a thermostat controlled by timers can save money by not heating the house when it is empty or while home owners are at work, and kept cool while people are sleeping.

• Keep things cool with ceiling fans and opening windows in the evening. Ceiling fans keep air moving and gives the feeling of lowered temperatures. It has been estimated that air circulation can reduce the AC temperature setting by 2 degrees. This may not seem like much, but a two degree air conditioning setting will show big savings on the utility bill.

• Keep the water heater warm with a hot water jacket. Hot water heaters and hot water use is a large part of the utility bill. Something as simple as a $10 water jacket can reduce the amount of electricity used to keep the water warm.

• Most people would flock to a 75% off sale. Think of that when replacing light bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs use 75% less energy than the standard incandescent bulb and can last up to 10 times longer. Be aware however, that the initial price is more expensive so shopping around is essential.

Energy almost oozes out of peoples homes whether they realize it or not. With a little effort energy can be saved and along with it some hard-earned cash can stay in your pocket.