Saving Electricity

Posted on Thursday 14 June 2007 at 7:23 AM in Staying Healthy - Post Comment

I need to really work on cutting down our electric bill.  Back when we lived in Michigan (my more frugal days) my average electric bill during the summer was around $10 each month. My electric bills are MUCH more than that here.  But even doing everything I know to bring down our electric bills...they are still so much higher than I think they should be. 

Hubby agrees and last night we ordered a little device called a Kill A Watt from Amazon.  We will plug it into the wall, then plug the item we're checking into it.  The device will tell us how much electricity that item is using.  I believe this will identify the electricity hogs in our home...and hopefully we'll be able to do something about it.

We really don't realize how many things we have around the house that are continuously using electricity, even if it is just a little. Microwave, clock radios, VCRs etc. are always showing their little displays. We now have cordless phones that need to be plugged into the wall. We have all sorts of gadgets that have batteries than need charging like cell phones etc. It all adds up.

Here are some things that I've done to help reduce our electric bill:

Turn off lights and unplug unneeded appliances and electronics. Use natural light as much as possible. Our old house had poor lighting so we spent a lot of time outside in the summer...which isn't a bad thing anyway!

Consider replacing electric appliances with non-electric versions like can openers, knives, popcorn poppers. I won't part with my crockpot though!

Invest in flourescent bulbs. They take less wattage and you should see an immediate difference in your electric bills. These bulbs also last longer than regular bulbs.  But remember, these bulbs contain mercury.  There are issues on how to dispose of them safely...and issues if they get broken.

I try to use the clothes line when the weather is nice, even during the winter.  We have a gas dryer...but it still uses electricity.

Keep all your appliances (fridge, washer, dryer, freezer etc.) and light fixtures clean and maintained. They will run more efficiently if they are maintained properly.

BBQ more often instead of cooking indoors.  I'm even considering trying to make one of those solar cookers!

Use your landscape to help you save money on your electric bills. Strategically planting trees and strubs around your house can help cool it in the summer and keep it warm in the winter.

Then there are little things...and the pennies really do add up. Wash your dishes by hand instead of running the dishwasher. After brewing a pot of coffee, store the coffee in a caraff and turn the coffee maker off. Turn your computer off when it isn't being used.  Spend more time outside.

Once our little Kill A Watt device comes in, I'll give you the run down after hubby tests everything.  In the mean time, I'd love to hear some of the things you all do to save on your electricity bill.

Untitled Comment

Posted by Keeblur on Thursday 14 June 2007 at 8:36 AM - Link

We have the flourescent (I can't spell it for some reason) bulbs. We don't use the A/C (well, we actually still don't have it hooked up yet), instead we keep the windows open and use fans. On hot days I keep the blinds or curtains (thin) down to help keep the heat out. I'm also really big with turning the lights off if someone isn't in the room. I never thought about turning off or unplugging appliances that aren't being used. Good idea!
Vicki