Electricity doesn’t have to break your bank account. All it takes to cut that electric bill is a little change in our thought process. We are pretty spoiled to convenience. With the smallest effort, you can save more than half on your electric b

In this blog I will share more than 35 tips on how you can cut electricity. Some are common sense and others require a little effort until it becomes second nature and routine.

Last year my electric bill shot up to over $400 during the winter months. This winter my bill was $55. That,s a major savings. I believe I could have gotten it even lower but my husband is disabled and is home 24/7. Lets get started:

THE SIMPLE STUFF

• Turn off those lights! Use natural light as much as possible. Open the blinds and curtains.
• Switch to LED light bulbs.
• Turn the TV off when not in use.
• The cable box draws a surprising amount of electricity so turn it off.
• Basically turn everything you’re not using off. More on this under phantom power.

HEATING & COOLING

• Set your thermostat at 72 and leave it alone. The more you turn it up and down the more it effects your electric bill.
• Insulate your home. It’s an investment that is well worth the cost.
• Insulate your windows. Use insulated curtains in the winter and blinds in the summer.
• During the winter months put shrink wrap plastic on your windows. They have the clear plastic that lets you see clearly outside. You simply shrink it with a hair dryer.
• Go drastic and purchase a wood or pellet stove to heat your home. You can find wood for free. Look in the paper and online. People are asking for someone to haul it away.
• Wear warmer clothes.
• Electric blankets and throws are pennies on the hour so cuddle up.
• Close off rooms not in use and close the vents in that room as well. You don’t need to heat or cool rooms not in use.
• During spring and fall turn the AC unit off and open doors and windows and cool naturally with fans while airing out your house.
• Window air conditioners and floor units are actually cheaper to run than the AC unit.

APPLIANCES

• Turn your water heater down to 120º. Yes it will still be hot enough to kill bacteria.
• Turn your water heater off completely until about 30 minutes before you need hot water.
• Wash clothes in cold water only.
• Use the shortest time setting on your washer. Unless you have a really dirty load this is sufficient.
• Don’t wash towels after every single use. After all, you’re drying off a freshly cleaned body. Hang the towel up to dry and use it a couple of times to save on washing so often.
• Install a low flow shower head to save on hot water.
• Wash laundry after peek hours which is usually after 9:30
• Avoid using the dishwasher as little as possible. Hand wash as you cook.
• Don’t let the hot water run while you wash dishes.
• Set a timer on the kids when they shower.
• Dry clothes on the line. This will save you $20-$30 a month. Hanging whites in the sun will help naturally bleach them white.
• If you do use the dryer, invest in dryer balls to help cut down on your drying time.
• Turn the temperature down on your refrigerator. If the eggs are freezing when you put them in the back of the refrigerator, you have it turned down too low.
• The oven uses a lot of electricity. Use your toaster oven, air fryer or grill to save money.
• Do you have a freezer you keep outside. Bring it inside so it doesn’t have to work so hard in the outside heat.

PHANTOM POWER

Let,s discuss phantom power. See that light up clock on your microwave? Or that blue light on your VCR? When appliances or electronics are not in use, but plugged into an electrical outlets ,they are in stand by mode and they are pulling electricity. How else could those lights be on? It averages 10% of the cost of your electric bill. Even chargers are using phantom power. Here’s what to do:

• Hook everything up to surge protectors. This way you can switch everything on and off with a flip of a switch when they are not in use.
• Unhook all kitchen appliances on the counter like your coffee pot, blender ect. Even your microwave.
• Extreme savors will turn off unused large appliances at the breaker box until needed. It doesn’t take that much time to flip a switch, it,s just something we need to get in the habit of doing.

MISCELLNEOUS

• Charge your phone in the car
• When buying a new appliance or TV, buy energy efficient.
• Christmas lights. Sorry, but these draw a lot of power. Switch to LED lights or solar lights instead. A little more expensive but they last longer.
• Switch to solar motion lights and security lights,

I hope you’re excited about saving money on your next electric bill.

“Your energy is currency.

Spend it well.

Invest it wisely”

~unknown~