As nearly everyone knows the costs of power have been going up and up. In some locations, consumers are being threatened with the removal of price caps were which were put in place by legislation years ago to prevent costs from soaring. But now that the utilities want to make more profit, and claim their costs of generation are going up, price caps are coming off in many states like Pennsylvania. The fact is that the utilities have not invested for decades in the grid which transmits energy across the country. The extra profits have gone to shareholders but now that the grid is having difficulty, they need a way to pay for it. Not only that, but utilities are also looking for ways to pay for things like “smart grid”, for which some funding is coming from the government, but not all of it. Meanwhile the ones that are going to foot the bill are the consumers.
So how do you save on electricity? What are the best ways to reduce your electricity bill? The most obvious way is to not use it. Simple things like shutting off lights, unplugging computers when not in use, and turning off heat or air conditioning when it’s not really needed is the easiest way. Also, keeping your thermostat at a lower temperature in the winter and a higher temperature for your air conditioning in the summer is another way to keep your electricity from kicking in when it’s not really needed.
Another way to save on electricity is to replace old appliances with new efficient ones. You can get a break on your taxes for this kind of purchase, as the government wants people to replace old refrigerators, freezers and so on. However, you will have to pay for most of it out of pocket, which may or may not make this affordable for you. The long term savings in electricity though might be worth it. If you go this route, be sure to look for energy star appliances.
Another simple way to save on electricity is to use compact fluorescent bulbs. If you haven’t switched your fixtures to cfl’s yet, they are really worth it. They last longer, use less electricity, and the prices have come down tremendously as many more people are using them. They now come in all shapes and sizes for most fixtures both indoor and out.
One thing that uses up a lot of electricity that people are often not aware of is what is known as “ghost load”. This means that many appliances use electricity even when you think they are turned off. Any appliances that have a digital clock, a quick turn on, or other electronics continue to use electricity because they have circuits that remain on even though you pressed the off switch. There are estimates that a ghost load can be using as much as 10% of the electricity used in your home. The best way to eliminate ghost load is to unplug appliances and electronics when they are not in use. There are also special surge protector strips which ensure that all of your electronics are off when you throw the main switch.
Another place where you are using electricity perhaps without realizing it is in the insulation of your home. Having poor insulation or drafty windows and doors can mean that heat or air conditioning is leaking literally through the walls and cracks in your home. There are attempts to make a home inspection for energy purposes less expensive, and in some cases you can get rebates from the state and or federal government. Be sure to look into these types of programs because you can do an analysis of your homes energy use and have most of the cost covered. There are also tax rebates if you follow through and have some of the work done on your home to close up any leaks you have period. This can be a huge savings in the amount of electricity you are using.
To really cut energy costs, however, you must use less. There is really no way to cut costs and continue to use as much or more electric as you’re currently using. It’s a fact that prices are just going to go up. Considering how much money people are paying for electric usage each month or for gas heating, figuring out how to use a lot less can really benefit you and the best way is to just turn things off. For example, if you are leaving outdoor lights on overnight, or you are leaving lights on in the kitchen while everyone is asleep, for example, you are wasting electric. Leaving computer systems, printers, and speakers on 24/7 means that you are paying for the electricity even though no one is using it. Another huge hog of electric power are plasma televisions. People don’t realize that even turned off, a plasma TV is using almost as much electricity as when it’s turned on, and when it’s on it’s using a lot. Having televisions in every room is almost common place in the United States, and having televisions that are turned on even though no one is there is a huge waste of money and power.
Here’s another way to save electricity. When you’re doing your laundry, use warm or cold water whenever possible. With today’s detergents, you don’t need to use hot water for every wash. When you use your dryer, set it on air dry, or put your clothes on a line outside the old fashioned way. Your washer and dryer are huge users of electricity.
And while we’re on the subject of hot water, taking long hot showers and baths are huge places where electricity is heating the water for your routine. You can turn down the thermostat on your water heater so that the water is at a comfortable level but not too hot, which means that it is consistently heating the water and therefore using electric. There are also appliances called tank less water heaters, which heat the water on an as needed basis, instead of keeping a huge tank of water hot at all times even when it’s not needed. A tank less water heater will cost you a few hundred, for sure, but in the long run if you use a lot of hot water it could really save you money. At least it can make back the costs of its purchase and installation.
If you’re looking for ways to cut your electric bills, the above ideas can get you a good head start. Make it into a game, and check your electric bill each month to see how new steps you add start to bring down your bill. Over time if you add one or two ideas to cut your electricity each week or each month, you will start to see the savings. For some folks as rates increase if you want to keep affordable electric in your home now is the time is to start to save on your electricity bills.
