Effective Ways to Reduce Your Electric Bill

If you are worried that you are spending too much money on electricity, evaluating your usage is definitely the key towards resolving the problem.

There are literally hundreds of ways to reduce your energy consumption. As long as you are willing to take a closer look at your habits and do necessary changes, it’s really not an impossible goal to save big bucks along the way.

So before trying to compare and find electricity providers online, I will share a few ideas in this article to give you some good starting points:

Image credit: woodleywonderworks (flickr.com)

Fridge and Freezer

The kitchen is often the place that takes up a huge percentage in your consumption. Just consider the fact that your fridge and freezer running the entire day.

Fortunately, there’s something you can do about it. For instance, avoid leaving the door open for a long time. Keeping the door closed makes it easier for the appliance to retain its cold temperature. Also, it is a big mistake to put warm food because that will be harder for your freezer to cool down.

Another thing you should keep in mind is to consistently keep the appliance at least ¾ full for most of the time. Do not fill it to capacity because that will require higher amounts of cooling power. Regular defrosting can be a big help, too.

Home Entertainment

Taking a closer look, you will likely find out that about half of your consumption is from home entertainment systems such as computers, televisions, and other electronic devices.


If you are planning to purchase a TV soon, you might be interested to know that LED TVs are far more energy-efficient than LCDs and plasmas. Of course, the rule still applies that bigger TVs consume more energy so take note of that as well. Check ahead if the TV comes with ambient light sensor feature. This technology makes it possible for the TV to automatically make setting adjustments based on how light or dark the room is. Take advantage of the eco mode and turn it on, too, if your TV has this feature.
 

Image credit: Aaron Peterson (flickr.com)

When it comes to computers, it makes sense to go for laptops because they consume lesser electricity than desktops. You will be surprised with how big you can save if you will consistently use your laptop instead of your PC. If using a desktop is unavoidable, ditch the old-fashioned CRT monitor and get a slimmer display. This can help you save more money in the end.  


Related Resources:
100 Ways to Save Energy at Home (progress-energy.com)
Saving Electricity (energy.gov)