With energy and gas prices increasing at a rapid rate most consumers are doing what they can to reduce their use of electricity. There are a number of minor things you can do that will dramatically change the size of your bill.
1. The majority of your electric bill comes from space heating (i.e. your air conditioner or heater). During the winter, try to wear warmer clothes and keep the thermostat a few degrees cooler. For those hot summer months, you may want to invest in some inexpensive room fans, or even install ceiling fans, which can help circulate warm air during the winter as well.
2. If you are purchasing new appliances for your household, consider buying those that are energy-efficient. There are many vendors of energy-efficient appliances that can save you plenty of money every month. Ask your local appliance store for ideas and options on appliances.
3. Check your home's insulation system. Investing in proper insulation is fairly inexpensive compared to spending hundreds of dollars in heating/cooling bills as a result of having poor insulation in your home.
4. Water heating can also account for a large percentage of your electric bill. Some things you can do to decrease this expense are: insulate your hot-water storage tank and pipes, turn the thermostat on your water gauge to 115 degrees (make sure your water heater does not have specific requirements for higher temperatures before changing the setting).
5. During the colder months, try to use more blankets instead of the heater. If you have an electric blanket, turn it on about one hour prior to the time you're going to bed, and then turn it off when you get in bed.
6. During the warmer times of the year, leaving window shades open and allowing sunlight in can increase the temperature in your house by a significant number of degrees. To reserve the cool air in your home, keep shades drawn, especially if you're not home. In the winter, keep your shades closed as much as you can, and make sure your windows are tight-fitting. Double-paned windows are always more insulating both in the winter and summer
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