Check out these ideas shared by the ThriftyFun community!
To save on electricity during peak costs, use a battery operated radio. I also use a battery operated lamp in my bedroom. The batteries last a long time, saving money.
After unplugging every gadget that wasn't being used, turning off every light that didn't need to burn, and replacing every appliance with an energy saving model, there still had to be an unseen way to save electricity. Saving water can save electricity as well.
One can never save enough electric. Yet, the growing concern over the cost of utilities coincides with the growing concern for the health of our planet. This enables a household to cut utility costs while "going green" in ways that are easier than ever before.
Our local library offers, to members, free usage of Kill A Watt monitor for three days. There is a waiting list but it is well worth the wait. Check your local library to see if they offer it. It was donated by the local power company.
I am such a creature of habit that I often do not think of the things I do that use expensive energy and climate changing fuels.
We are on a "Time-of-Use" plan for the electricity we use in our home. Our provider is Wisconsin Public Service. From 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. and 24 hours/day on Saturdays,Sundays, and holidays, we are charged $.0549/KWH.
Think you've mastered electrical savings? Take another look around your home and find even more places to pull the plug and keep the meter from spinning.
There are more than a few ways to keep the electric meter from spinning at an alarming rate. Some require a little electrical inventory, such as turning off unused appliances or switching to Energy Star appliances. However, others take a bit more creativity and planning.
Unplug appliances that are "instant on" appliances, such as TV, phone charger, etc. when not in use. These are "vampire" appliances that have electric current going through them.
I was absolutely shocked at my electric bill this month, so I sat down and made a list of things I will do to see if I can get it down, this list is now posted on the refrigerator, so I can see it every day. . .
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Tip for saving money on electricity. Post your ideas.
Cover your windows! I don't have the best windows and can't afford new ones and I can feel the cold coming off of them at night! By using drapes to trap the heat and stop the cold, you could save a considerable amount of money on your energy bill. This works in the summer, too. Also, check the fitting on your outer doors. Use a blanket or towel on the bottom if there is any gap. Nobody mentioned this yet so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents.
Putting your outside lights on motion detectors also can save energy. And, turn off lights when leaving the room -- sounds obvious, but it helps.
We save money on electricity by turning our thermostat on 78-80 degrees in Summer. We use propane fireplaces to keep the house warm in winter. Summer time, we keep the curtains and mini-blinds shut.
Does a laundry dryer that is turned off use a lot of energy with a 220 plug?
By Tonya from CO
A dryer that's not running doesn't use any energy. The things that use energy are things with a continual light like electric clocks, anything with a timer. etc.
If my breaker keeps tripping; would that make my electrical bill go up, since I had to turn it off, then turn it back on? Wouldn't that take up a lot more power? I'm trying to figure out why my bill is 3 times higher than the other month. The only thing I can think of is when my breaker kept tripping.
By Ti
No, breakers tripping would not make your power bill go up. Whatever is causing your breaker to trip repeatedly might be the issue. Have you figured out WHY the breaker continually trips?
How can we save $$ on our energy bill when my utility company increases our rates because we are using less energy?
By Ted
My electric bill was over 220 dollars for one month in a small 2 bed/1 bath apt in Ohio. My apartment has old appliances, stove, refrigerator, hot water heater, and AC unit from 1999. Whenever I say anything to the landlord, she gets mad! The seal around the refrigerator and oven are old, moldy, and don't fit well enough to seal properly. Now my utility bill is so high, but I can't afford to move!
By Marie H.
I started recently saving money on my electric bill, and wanted to hear if anyone else had ideas, feedback, etc. I switched my energy provider to North American Power (www.napower.com/kdegross). I am literally saving about $20 a month in my small apartment. I didn't even see a difference on my electric bill, and CLandP still handles any problems.
Has anyone else had this success? Any other ideas? Gas is so high in CT, I figured that if I can save on my electric, I am ahead of the game!
By JennCopplin from CT
How do I lower my power bill?
Kent from Dalton, Ga.
Here's some more good tips: Saving Money on Electricity
Thank you,
Sandy
A: Sandy,
There are a lot of easy ways to save on electricity during the winter. Here are just a few related to hot water and hot water heaters:
Even if your hot water heater is new, insulating your water heater and pipes keeps heat from escaping and the project will easily pay for itself in less than a year.
Don't shut off your hot water heater. Turn down the temperature dial instead. You'll be surprised how low you can set the dial and still have plenty of hot water for your needs (try 115° to 125°).
Check "time of day rates" if your hot water heater is electric. This involves having your water heater come on only during "off-peak" times, but at a lower rate. Check with your utility company to see if they offer this plan.
Turn your water heater down to the lowest setting if you will be gone for a couple of days.
Use foam wrap to insulate hot water pipes throughout your house. Keep it three inches away from heater draft hoods and exhaust vents.
Install low flow aerators on faucets and install water saving showerheads. Fix leaky faucets.
Take showers instead of baths-they use less water.
I would just recommend turning the water heater down if you will be gone for an extended period of time, but otherwise, on a daily basis, I would not suggest that you turn your water heater off. It will expend much more energy to reheat the water than if you just leave it on all the time. I would open all blinds in the morning and get the natural heat from the sun in the house, and then when the sun moves overhead and is not coming in the windows, close all the blinds and keep as much heat as possible in.
I have a water heater timer and it's saves me about $30 a month. Now my electric rates are high so you might not get the same result, but it does make a difference. Even my electric company suggests the timer. I have a good insulation (and my heater is small) so I put it on for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.(and I'm alone) Even 6 hours after it been turned off I still have hot water. The only time I need more is when I do heavy laundry, no big deal, just turn it back on.
Hello. This is a question related to saving on home heating bills. I live in a single family home with a basement and reside in Maryland. My new wife seems to believe that turning off our gas heating thermostat during the day while we are at work saves money. We'd come back and turn on the heat again but this takes time to reheat the whole home. And as the temp's get colder, is this a good idea to save money? Before I got married I have never turned off the heat during the winter days fearing this would freeze my pipes. Who is correct in this case? Thanks!
Editor's Note: We posted this as a new request:
www.thriftyfun.com/
Here are some ideas to help you save money on your electric bill. Post your ideas below!
Save Money on Your Electric Bill
Want to save money on your electric bill? One of the biggest electricity uses is your clothes dryer. Hang your clothes outside to dry. They will smell better. They will not be apt to shrink. You will get some exercise. And best of all it's free. Happy clothes hanging.
By Joesgirl
Save Money on Your Electric Bill
Clean your clothes dryer's lint screen frequently. When it is clogged up, your dryer has to work harder and uses more energy.
By Becki in Indiana
If you do laundry, dishwashing or any high power-use chores during the hours of noon and 6 pm each day you are probably paying a peak rate for power. Wait and try to do these chores between the hours of 8pm and noon, when your power usage will be at its cheapest.
By Terri H.
Buy those light bulbs that last forever at a store like home depot. I think they are called fluorescent and they are circular for lamps or they look like a stick for other appliances (compact fluorescent). I paid a lot of money for them years ago and they are still working after about 10 years. They also don't use as much wattage but throw as much light.
If you have an electric water heater, turn off the heater at the circuit breaker box when you don't need to use it. Flip it back on about 15 to 20 minutes before you want to wash the dishes or take a shower. I just put the kitchen timer on. The water stays warm for a long time and heats up fast. Saves about $10 on my electric bill each month. If you have company, leave it on all the time because there is too much confusion when they are there with showers and etc.
make sure your windows are adequately sealed by means of caulking (silicone) around the edges. this will save money big time, especially in central air homes.
I found out the hard way about not using the dryer in summer to save $ ! I had to get a reparman ! I was told (then) that it happened to them TOO - but teirs was sitting in the garage of a for sale property & MICE got in it ! I was told to run the dryer at least a couple times a summer to lesson the chance of this happening (next time) !
Eat dinner by candle light ! Aside from the cozy effect - if you have kids it should be a way to get them to discuss their day or life while "incognito"
We did this when I had the step kids here - they felt more at ease discussing their previous home while the focus of light wasn't spotlighting them !
Make sure your refrigerator isn't by your stove ! I know that in a lot of kitchens thats the only way - for some reason - thats how builders set it up. But the heat from the stove makes the fridge run harder to compensate for the warmth !
if you can - get a stove in your basement or in garage or back porch !
We found one one time during fall pick up days that was inperfect condition very clean too ! Sold it for $20 !
But we have one in the basement & the heat is away from the living space in the summer when the kitchen without AC can become so unbearable !
Use lamps that have the small night light size bulbs ! I have several of these from the $ store
If you don't need to work or read by them - why have the larger bulbs or in some cases higher wattage !?
Tell your kids that every time you find a light left on or tv etc & noone in the room you will charge them a $ 1 !
After about $8 worth of that hard learning my step son finally got it figured out !
I know that sounds MEAN but ya know, the world isn't always a nice place - huh ?
I DO NOT LIKE TO SLEEP IN A COMPLETELY DARK HOUSE AT NIGHT. I HAVE FOUND THAT USING NIGHTLIGHTS DURING THE EARLY EVENINGS AND THROUGH THE NIGHT, CAN KEEP THE HOUSE LIT WELL ENOUGH FOR ME NOT TO GO BUMPING INTO THINGS AND STILL KEEP THE LIGHT BILL DOWN. TO WIT, MY LATEST LIGHT BILL ( JAN.2005 ) WAS JUST UNDER 7 DOLLARS WHILE MY GAS BILL FOR HEAT AND COOKING WAS OVER 200 DOLLARS...I NEED TO FIGURE OUT TO BRING THAT DOWN...BUT STILL, 7 DOLLARS FOR LIGHT BILL IS NOT BAD AT ALL.""""""""""""
TO save on energy with the dryer, I cut the dry time for the clothes and hang up damp shirts and pants on plastic hangers. I hang them on a bar that sits over my laundry room door. Pulling the clothes out of the dryer early saves money but also time since you will not need to iron these clothes if they are promptly hung up.
Teach your kids to use the cold water whenever possible. That way, it won't cause your hot water heater to come on as often.
at nights unplug all your tvs because even thought they are off they are still using energy just simply unplug them every night and don't plug them till your ready to use it i saved 25 dollars on my bill. Well maybe it's because i have 5 tvs? try it
if you want to save money on the bill and you have kids make them electric police. It made my son feel useful around the house, and it was less hassle for me having to go around the house and make sure that whatever didnt need to be on wasn't. TRUST ME IT'LL WORK
Stop letting your Electric Company get away with increasing your rates year after year.
Go Solar now without the up-front investment. Guarantee your electricity rate for up to 25 years.
click on rethink solar below to find out more!
jointhesolution.com/
Do not unplug everything. The one who saved $25 was not because of his/her equipment's were unplugged, it was because of him/her being conservative. You can do the same without unplugging, just don't turn them on. When they are on, they consume full power as supposed to 1/50 of the power when they were off. I've done this and paid about 1/3 to 1/4 of what I used to pay.
Compact flourescents are great.
I did three things this summer that had a direct impact on my power bill.
First I replaced my electric dryer with a gas model (I did have to get a gas line installed to make this possible). Second I replaced as many of the light bulbs around my house as I could with compact flourescents. Third I turned down my gas water heater to 120 degrees. After these three simple steps I had the lowest energy bill I have had in 2 years. During the winter I estimate my total savings with these changes will be at least $50 per month.
My next project is to get an old solar water heating system on my roof working again. One of the past owners of my house bypassed the system. I'm hoping to get it working again and save even more on my energy bill.
Hello all!
Wash all of your clothing in cold water. If you have a good washer it will still get your clothing clean even in cold water. Not only that but the cold water seems to really work better for stains where if you use warm water it actually sets the stains in much more than they were before.
Turn off the lights! If you keep the lights off during the day and only use them at night when you REALLY need to see, like when you are looking for something. You will save on the electric bill and help the environment by not wasting power. SO keep them off during the day and only use them at night when you need it.
Read Department of Energy Fact Sheet on Power Factor
www1.eere.energy.gov/
Most motorized home appliances (air conditioning units, refrigerators, freezers, ceiling fans, washers, dryers, dishwashers, pool pumps, vacuum cleaners, furnace blowers, etc.) operate most efficiently when theyre operating at full capacity. When theyre not working at full capacity they pull more energy than they use, wasting the difference.
And lets face it, rarely does any appliance or device in your home constantly work at full capacity. In fact, the average home in America today operates at a power factor of .77. That means 23% of the electricity being delivered to the home is being wasted by the use of motorized appliances working at less than capacity.
You can increases that power factor, in most cases, to .97 or .98, therefore increasing the effective use of your electricity and lowering your usage.
Research more at:
http://www.SlowMyElectricMeter.com
ThriftyFun is one of the longest running frugal living communities on the Internet. These are archives of older discussions.
