If you wish to lower your electric bill then one way you can do this is by looking at how much you are paying for your hot water. If your bill seems too high or keeps climbing then you can lower your costs by using less water. This may seem like a basic concept but not everyone automatically considers how much water they actually use on a regular basis.
In order to conserve the hot water in your home you should fix any and all leaks, install fixtures that are low-flow and buy a dishwasher and washing machine that is energy efficient. Let us take a closer look.
Leaks
To lower your electric bill and reduce the hot water that you use you should fix any leaks in your fixtures right away. This includes all pipes as well as faucets and showerheads. If your water heater tank is leaking then you need to get a new one right immediately. Be advised that a “leak of one drip per second can cost $1 per month.”
Low-Flow Fixtures
According to federal mandate, the flow rates of showerheads cannot be greater than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) and have a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch (psi). Choose a showerhead that has a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm. Choose from either a laminar-flow showerhead or an aerating showerhead. Installing low-flow fixtures is an excellent way to lower your electric bill. They sell for anywhere from $10 – $20 and can provide water savings of anywhere from 25 to 60 percent.
Energy-Efficient Major Appliances
Lower your electric bill by using less energy when you wash your dishes and your clothes. As far as a dishwasher is concerned, always check the EnergyGuide label. There are two types of dishwashers- compact capacity and standard capacity. Compact capacity dishwashers are more energy efficient but hold fewer dishes which mean that you actually end up using a greater amount of energy.
Buy a dishwasher that contains a booster heater. A dishwasher that contains one of these will cost you a little bit more but the energy it saves you is well worth the money you use to buy it. Lowering the temperature on your water heater can further reduce your energy costs.
In order to lower your energy costs with your washing machine, wash your clothes in warm or cold water and rinse in cold. When buying a new machine, purchase one that permits you to adjust the water temperature. Choose a front loading washer because it uses a lesser amount of water and therefore less energy which helps to lower your electric bill.
If you want to lower your electric bill and your lights are the biggest offender when it comes to high energy costs, then you should start by remembering to turn off lights when you leave a room. As well do not turn on lights when you don’t need to.
Indoor sensors can be purchased for anywhere from $15 up to $50 or more. These sensors can be placed in high traffic areas of your home such as hallways, corridors, stairways and garages. When someone is in the vicinity the lights will come on and when they leave the lights will go off. There is no turning lights on and off and the worry about forgetting!
One of the best ways to lower your electric bills in terms of your lights is to switch your standard lightbulbs to those twisty strange looking bulbs that are popping up in every store. These compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL’s) are the absolute best type of bulb for energy efficiency. The ones that are qualified by Energy Star (all of them are not as of yet so only purchase the ones that are) use on average about 75% less electricity than the standard incandescent bulbs that most of us have been using our whole lives. The CFL’s last a great deal longer too- an estimated 10 times longer.
The CFL’s are more expensive to purchase but think of them as an investment. If you rent then take them with you when you move to a new place. Please note that the new light bulbs do consist of a small trace of mercury so it is important that you follow directions set down by the EPA when it comes to disposing of the bulbs and cleaning one up if it breaks. R
To lower your electric bills, lower your lights. While many of the new fluorescent bulbs are not currently compatible with dimmer switches unless it states so on the packaging, you can still reduce energy costs when you use regular bulbs. Set your dimmer switch at 75% for energy output. This can greatly lengthen the life of the bulbs and it will save you as much as 20% in energy costs.
If you wish to lower your electric bill then you need to look at your heating costs. If you live in a cold climate then your heating costs could account for almost as much as 45% of your electric bill. One thing you can do to lower your electric bill is to adjust the thermostats accordingly. Set thermostats to a comfortable temperature but don’t overheat your home. When you go to work during the day it does not hurt to lower the thermostat one or two degrees. If you go away for a weekend or a week’s vacation then turn it down anywhere from five to 10 degrees.
Anyone who has pets or plants would be well advised to buy a programmable thermostat for their home. Those who travel frequently would also be well advised to buy such a thermostat. A programmable thermostat is not cheap- it costs in the area of $75 to $200- but it is a worthwhile investment. The thermostat will easily pay for itself in less than 12 months. According to Energy Star, using a programmable thermostat can save you an estimated $180 a year
Other suggestions for ways to lower your electric bill include:
-Make sure that all of your heating vents are unobstructed. Check to see that they are not blocked by carpeting or furniture.
-If you have a fireplace then make sure you keep the damper closed when you do not have a fire going. Heat can very easily escape by way of the chimney when the fireplace is not in use.
-Speaking of fireplaces, only use yours on the coldest nights. Do not make a regular habit of using the fireplace because fires actually take heat away from the room they are in.
-Fans in your bathroom and kitchen need to work hard to do their job and should only be used when it is necessary. One hour of being on is enough for them to expel a tremendous amount of warm air in your home. Limit your usage as much as possible.
-Change the filter on your furnace every few months. Your furnace will run better if it has a clean air filter. If air has to push through a filter that is clogged this can use up a great deal of energy. A clean filter also means that the air circulating in your home is cleaner and healthier.
Regardless of whether you have an air conditioner that sits in a window or central air conditioning, there are ways to lower your electric bill and still remain cool during the sweltering months. Read on for some suggestions for keeping your cool:
If you decide to buy central air conditioning, choose one that has a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of 13 or more. If you reside in a warm climate then buy at least a number 14. When it comes to room air conditioners, you need to buy one with an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 11 and up.
When shopping for an air conditioning unit for the window, chose one that is suitable based on the room’s size and the number of windows in the room. Which directions the windows face towards is also significant to your decision. Bigger is not necessarily better. If you buy an AC unit that is too large for the room then it will cost you more because the unit has to work twice as hard.
Regular maintenance on your air conditioning unit is an important way to lower your electric bill. At the start of every cooling season have the unit inspected by a professional service. During the cooling season you can do your part as well. On a monthly basis, change the filter for optimum use.
Depending on where you live and the climate, the two things in your home that use up the most energy are the heating system and the air conditioning system. If you currently have an AC that is older and has a SEER number that is 8 or less you are contributing to a higher energy bill. To lower your electric bill, purchase a more energy efficient AC with a higher SEER number.
Your air conditioning condenser should be placed in a shady area where it has plenty of space to get rid of the heated air that it takes out of the house. Make sure nothing is obstructing it from doing its job.
With the state of the economy the way it is, everyone is looking to find ways to save money. One common concern is how to find ways to lower your electric bill. If you are not sure how to go about lowering your electric bill then read on for some helpful money saving suggestions in relation to your major appliances and your lights.
Help Me to Lower My Electric Bill!
In order to lower your electric bill the first thing you should do is take a close look at your major appliances including your refrigerator, stove, washer and dryer. These appliances use up a great deal of electricity and even more so when they are not working as they should be. If there is a problem with one of your larger appliances then either get it repaired or replace it. Soaring costs in electricity can often be traced back to an appliance that is not running properly.
If any of your major appliances (this includes any air conditioners you may have in your home) is any more than 10 to 15 years old then it is time for you to think about upgrading to newer models. This is one of the best ways to lower your electric bill. The appliances that are up-to-date with today’s modern technology are expected to conform to Energy Star efficiency. These appliances can help to greatly lower your electric bill because they are on average 10 to 20 % cheaper to run than are other appliances.
When it comes to lights, lower your electric bill by turning them off when you leave a room. Do not leave lights on for no reason. Lights are a terrible waste of electricity. You might want to replace lighting that is non-essential in your home with fluorescent lights. While fluorescent lightbulbs are pricier to buy, they are worth it in terms of how much they can lower your electricity bill. Bear this in mind- a single standard incandescent lightbulb is equivalent in cost to six to 10 fluorescent bulbs. The other good news about fluorescent bulbs is that they will provide you with 10 times the lasting power of standard lightbulbs.