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Becoming Low Energy: Simple Steps to a Lower Electric Bill

Blog | December 30th, 2011

You know, there was a time not too many years ago where there was no electricity in the land. The poor pilgrims in their humble huts would have given anything to flip a switch and light up their whole home. Unfortunately, they didn’t foresee the burden that this convenience would cause: the electric bill. This is one of the biggest expenses for people each month and when it’s too high, it prevents you from doing fun activities with the family. If you’re tired of paying too much for power, we have some good news for you. There are a variety of simple steps you can take to lower this utility and have more money to do activities you want to do!

 

Don’t Forget to Turn out the Lights!

 

The most important thing to remember is something that is easily forgotten by people; turn everything off when you leave the room or the house. When you aren’t in a room, make sure you turn out the lights. If you aren’t watching TV or using your computer, turn it off instead of just leaving it on. Unused chargers or electronics that are left plugged in are a big drain of power. These items are still using electricity and, little by little, adding dollars and cents to your electric bill.

 

Make Improvements to your House

 

It should seem a little obvious but making minor improvements around the house can save you big bucks long-term on electricity. Inspect and clean your pipes and ducts regularly to check for leaks that could raise your energy bill. In fact, installing new insulation or getting your house sealed helps to keep heat in, lowering your need for heat. If you want to go extreme, paint your home a lighter color! This prevents it from absorbing as much heat, keeping it nice and cool.

 

Shop Smarter for your Utilities

 

When it finally comes time to replace that old washer and dryer or that aging refrigerator, make sure you replace them with Energy Star efficient models. These are specifically designed models built to use less electricity than other appliances but still work exactly the same. They also offer rebates that other models don’t. Do some research before you buy to see if that’s the case. While you are at the store, buy some compact fluorescent light bulbs to replace your old incandescent light bulbs.

 

Find New Ways to Lower your Bill

 

If the option exists, shop around for different companies that offer utilities in your area. You might be able to find a better value by switching to a different company. If you want to stay with your existing company, consider switching to a fixed charge or a time-of-use plan. These allow you to pre-determine how much you want to pay each month and give you discounts for using power outside of peak hours.  To get REALLY efficient, you can buy an energy usage monitor. It will help you check how much power you use and find spikes in voltage.

 

Your electric bill can be a big expense for you if you aren’t careful. If you take some of these steps, you will have more money at the end of the month and you will have made the world a little greener at the same time. If you have your own tips to saving electricity, please list them below!