The best way to start saving on your electricity costs is to get smart with how you use electricity. Make these 21 no-cost changes in your home and you could save $500 or more a year, depending on a number of factors including the size of your home.
Now's the time to also join Team Power Smart and start a Reduction Challenge. If you can deliver on most of the 21 changes below, you could reduce your electricity use by 10% over the year and earn a $50 reward.
1. Turn off unnecessary lights: Two 100-watt incandescent bulbs switched off an extra two hours per day could save you $15 over a year. Better yet, switch to LED.
Save $15
2. Use natural light: A single south-facing window can illuminate 20 to 100 times its area. Turning off one 60-watt bulb for four hours a day is a $9 saving over a year.
Save $9
2. Use natural light: A single south-facing window can illuminate 20 to 100 times its area. Turning off one 60-watt bulb for four hours a day is a $9 saving over a year.
Save $9
3. Use task lighting: Turn off ceiling lights and use table lamps, track lighting and under-counter lights in work and hobby areas as well as in kitchens.
Save $6
4. Take shorter showers Hot water is expensive. If two people in your home cut their shower time by a minute each, you could save $30 over a year.
Save $30
5. Turn water off when shaving, washing hands, brushing teeth: Reduce your hot water usage by 5% to save about $19.
Save $19
6. Fix that leaky faucet: Fixing a hot water leak in your faucet can save up to $9 per year in energy costs. Learn how to fix that leak.
Save $9
7. Unplug unused electronics: Standby power can account for 10% of an average household's annual electricity use. Unplug unused electronics and save $50 a year.
Save $50
8. Ditch the desktop computer: If you're still using that old desktop, recycle it and switch to your laptop. If you use your laptop two hours per day, you'll save $4 over a year.
Save $4
9. Not home? Turn off the air conditioner:Turn off that old window unit air conditioner for five hours a day while you're away. Do that for 60 days over a summer and you'll save $16.
Save $16
10. Recycle or donate that old TV: Recycle or donate your old T.V.. Even if you're just using it an hour a day, that 42-inch LCD is costing you six bucks a year.
Save $6
11. Manage your thermostat: If you have electric heat, lower your thermostat by two degrees to save 5% on your heating bill. Lowering it five degrees could save 10%.
Save $120
12. Be strategic with window coverings: Promote airflow through your home and block the afternoon sun. You could save you up to $10 (2 fans) or $45 (1 window unit AC) during the summer.
Save $45
13. Reduce heat in the kitchen: Avoid using the oven in summer – try salads, smoothies or barbecue. You'll reduce the heat in your home and save on your home cooling costs.
Save $5
14. Run full loads: Cut one load of wash per week, even if you're already using cold water only, and you could save $18 a year on your laundry costs.
Save $18
15. Wash laundry in cold: By switching from hot to cold water for an average of three loads per week, you could save up to $22 per year on your energy bill.
Save $22
16. Hang dry your laundry: If you do eight loads of laundry a week and use your clothesline for 50% of those clothes, you could save $65 a year.
Save $65
17. Toss a towel in the dryer: A dry towel added to your dryer load can significantly reduce drying times. If you're doing seven loads a week this could save you $27 a year.
Save $27
18. Be efficient with refrigeration: Keep your fridge and freezer at their ideal temperature. For your fridge this is between 2°C and 3°C and your freezer should be at -18°C.
Save $25
19. Unplug your second fridge: Unplug that second fridge and save up to $55 a year. Freeze plastic jugs of water and use them in a cooler when you need them.
Save $55
20. Skip the heat-dry setting for the dishwasher: That heat-dry setting is expensive. De-select it and, based on one load of dishes a day, save up to $27 for the year.
Save $27
21. Use the microwave, crock pot or toaster oven: A microwave takes 15 minutes to do the same job as 1 hour in an oven. Use a microwave instead of your oven 4 times a week and save $13/year.
Save $13
Save $6
4. Take shorter showers Hot water is expensive. If two people in your home cut their shower time by a minute each, you could save $30 over a year.
Save $30
5. Turn water off when shaving, washing hands, brushing teeth: Reduce your hot water usage by 5% to save about $19.
Save $19
6. Fix that leaky faucet: Fixing a hot water leak in your faucet can save up to $9 per year in energy costs. Learn how to fix that leak.
Save $9
7. Unplug unused electronics: Standby power can account for 10% of an average household's annual electricity use. Unplug unused electronics and save $50 a year.
Save $50
8. Ditch the desktop computer: If you're still using that old desktop, recycle it and switch to your laptop. If you use your laptop two hours per day, you'll save $4 over a year.
Save $4
9. Not home? Turn off the air conditioner:Turn off that old window unit air conditioner for five hours a day while you're away. Do that for 60 days over a summer and you'll save $16.
Save $16
10. Recycle or donate that old TV: Recycle or donate your old T.V.. Even if you're just using it an hour a day, that 42-inch LCD is costing you six bucks a year.
Save $6
 |
| Check These 21 Tips: No-Cost Ways To Save Electricity! |
Save $120
12. Be strategic with window coverings: Promote airflow through your home and block the afternoon sun. You could save you up to $10 (2 fans) or $45 (1 window unit AC) during the summer.
Save $45
13. Reduce heat in the kitchen: Avoid using the oven in summer – try salads, smoothies or barbecue. You'll reduce the heat in your home and save on your home cooling costs.
Save $5
14. Run full loads: Cut one load of wash per week, even if you're already using cold water only, and you could save $18 a year on your laundry costs.
Save $18
15. Wash laundry in cold: By switching from hot to cold water for an average of three loads per week, you could save up to $22 per year on your energy bill.
Save $22
16. Hang dry your laundry: If you do eight loads of laundry a week and use your clothesline for 50% of those clothes, you could save $65 a year.
Save $65
17. Toss a towel in the dryer: A dry towel added to your dryer load can significantly reduce drying times. If you're doing seven loads a week this could save you $27 a year.
Save $27
18. Be efficient with refrigeration: Keep your fridge and freezer at their ideal temperature. For your fridge this is between 2°C and 3°C and your freezer should be at -18°C.
Save $25
19. Unplug your second fridge: Unplug that second fridge and save up to $55 a year. Freeze plastic jugs of water and use them in a cooler when you need them.
Save $55
20. Skip the heat-dry setting for the dishwasher: That heat-dry setting is expensive. De-select it and, based on one load of dishes a day, save up to $27 for the year.
Save $27
21. Use the microwave, crock pot or toaster oven: A microwave takes 15 minutes to do the same job as 1 hour in an oven. Use a microwave instead of your oven 4 times a week and save $13/year.
Save $13
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