Lower your Electric Bill with these Energy Saving Tips
No matter whether you have a fixed rate plan or a pay as you go electricity plan you can save money by changing your consumption behavior. Here are few helpful ideas on how you can enjoy cheap, dependable electricity and lower your electric bill even more:
Does time of day impact the cost of my energy?
Yes. Peak energy usage is between 4-6PM. Running dishwashers and clothes washers and dryers later at night will reduce strain on the power grid and keep the house cooler in summer. This is true no matter if you have a prepaid electric plan or a fixed rate energy plan.
Does unplugging chargers, hair dryers, etc. lower my energy costs?
Yes. If you have a phone charger or hair dryer that is not being used, unplug it. This will lower your electricity costs. Anything you plug in not only uses electricity, it generates heat. This is true no matter if you have a prepaid electric plan or a fixed rate energy plan. So get in the habit of turning off lights, TVs, and other devices when you leave a room, especially in warmer weather.
Can I make an old appliance more energy-efficient?
No matter whether you have a fixed rate plan or a pay as you go electricity plan, using the most energy-efficient appliance is always a smart move. But you can make any appliance more efficient by being more efficient in how you use it. For instance, dry lighter clothing in separate loads from towels and other heavy materials. Dry loads back-to-back if possible, but remember to clean the lint screen between each load. It helps move moisture away from clothes faster. Don’t over dry your clothing. Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual heat in the dryer. Also, try throwing in a dry towel with your wet load to speed up drying time. Consider air-drying your clothing on clothes racks or lines.
Should computers and office machines be turned off or left on?
In spite of what you may have heard, computers do not last longer if you leave them on. Turn off your computer, monitors, copiers, fax machines, etc. when you are not using them. Set computers to switch to sleep mode when idle for more than a few minutes. This not only uses less energy, but will run cooler and reduce the need for air-conditioning your home or business. No matter whether you have a fixed rate plan or a pay as you go electricity plan, taking these steps can save you money.
How can I reduce the costs of hot water?
There are several ways to reduce the cost of hot water. Wrap the hot water tank with insulation. This is especially valuable for older water heaters with little internal insulation. Be sure to leave the air intake vent uncovered when insulating a gas water heater. Shortening shower time can also help. Simply reducing that lingering time by a few minutes can save hundreds of gallons of hot water per month for a family of four. Showers account for 2/3 of your water heating costs. Cutting your showers in half will reduce your water heating costs by 33 percent. No matter whether you have a fixed rate plan or a pay as you go electricity plan lowering your hot water consumption is an easy was to lower your electric bill.
How helpful is adding insulation in the attic?
If your attic is poorly insulated, consider increasing your insulation to up to R-38 to reduce heating costs by 5-25 percent. No matter whether you have a fixed rate plan or a pay as you go electricity plan, taking the time to increase your attic’s insulation is a great way to enjoy lower bills.
How much do windows in a home or business affect energy costs?
Seal and calk windows and consider adding storm windows for added insulation. In the summer keep your blinds drawn to lower your air conditioning costs. In the winter open drapes and let the sun heat your home for free. No matter whether you have a fixed rate plan or a pay as you go electricity plan, doing all you can to keep heat and air-conditioned air from escaping will reduce your air-conditioning and heating costs.
How much energy do the new energy-saving light bulbs use?
The new energy-saving bulbs definitely help in lowering electricity costs. However, any light bulb is going to use energy, so the most energy-efficient thing you can do is turn these light bulbs off. Make this your family’s practice: When you leave a room, turn off the light. No matter whether you have a fixed rate plan or a prepaid electricity plan, this can mean big savings on your electric bill.
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