I've compiled a list of tried and true changes you can make in your life to not only save on your electricity and power bill but it'll also help out the planet.
Think green and save some green.
The first step I took to reduce our power bill was to determine what areas used the most power.
In our home it was the dryer. During the summer months that's an easy remedy. I hang clothes outside as often as I can. Everything from shirts and shorts and unmentionables to towels. Granted the towels were a little stiff but if you add one-half cup of regular table salt to the rinse cycle of your washing machine the crispness and stiffness aren't so bad. The winter months provided a roadblock. Living in the north part of the United States we tend to get snow.
Our remedy…we put four clotheslines in the basement. With our wood furnace burning strong, the clothes dry within hours. I also hang a few unmentionables upstairs in the bathroom.
The second area I looked at was wastefulness. The old as time gripe people, mostly moms have, is leaving lights on in rooms when not in there. My remedy was to revoke Internet and television usage for offenders. Trust after two or three times of this, lights were being turned off at an alarming number.
The next step I took was to have the electric company come out to our house and do a maintenance and evaluation of our meter. You'd be amazed at what this little telephone call can accomplish. Making sure your meter is reading accurately can save you almost one hundred dollars a year. Break that down over twelve-months and you've saved yourself and your budget about nine dollars monthly. Not much but ever little bit helps.
We invested a little more into the new energy efficient light bulbs. I know they're expensive…I shuddered at the almost ten dollar initial investment. But when I started receiving power bills and saw the savings I decided the extra money was well worth it.
Do you, or the kids, really need to have the television or radio on when you hammering away on the Internet? Turn one off. The rule in our house is to have one electrical device working at a time per person. Trust me…you won't even miss it.
Other ways to cut your power bill are to completely shut down every computer in your house every night. Not only does this save money but it'll lengthen the life of your computer's fan unit.
When you're not using your coffee pot, toaster oven, blow dryer or other small appliance; unplug it. Believe it or not this saves money too. Electricity still flows through the electrical plug…hence costing you money.
Try cooking once or twice a week instead of daily. Using your oven for five hours a day versus five days for and hour or two really does save money. Plus your conserving propane, fuel oil or natural gas. A cost savings all around.
Plan your menu out, buy your grocery items and spend one day cooking. You'll be happy you did when you come from work exhausted and realize you don't have to cook dinner…it's already done.
Have one night a week without the television. Spend the time together and get to know one another. The time spent together is beneficial and healthy.
