| You Can Lower Your Electric Bill By Following These 5 Simple Tips |
| Articles - Savings |
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Many people are having a difficult time paying their bills due to the current bad economy. One of the worst offenders is the power bill - and it's only going to go up when the A/C comes on in the hot summer months. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help keep your electric bill under control. Check out these simple tips for home energy savings:
Many people are having a difficult time paying their bills due to the current bad economy. One of the worst offenders is the power bill - and it's only going to go up when the A/C comes on in the hot summer months. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help keep your electric bill under control. Check out these simple tips for home energy savings: * One of the simplest ways of saving money on your power bill is to change out your regular incandescent lightbulbs with cost-efficient compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs. While CFLs may cost more to buy, they have a longer life and will save you money on your electric bill each and every month. And you're no longer stuck with the glaring white light of before - CFLs are now available in assorted colors. * Unplug electrical devices you aren't using. Although it can be a pain, you should always unplug items you aren't using, because they often draw power even though they may be turned off. For example, if you never use the clock on your microwave, that's energy being spent to keep it on for no good reason. * Save money on your heating/cooling bill by making sure your AC/heater filter is cleaned or changed on a monthly basis. Don't waste energy by making your unit work harder than it has to. * Seal leaks where drafts can come in. Use caulk to seal leaks around door and window frames. Put a 'draft stopper' at the base of doors - even a rolled up towel will do. If your windows are old and drafty, consider heavy curtains to insulate them. Don't forget to insulate the attic too, to prevent heat loss in winter. * Speaking of winter, why not try lowering the thermostat at night? Most of us find we sleep better in cooler temperatures, so there's no reason not to drop the temperature by about 10 degrees in the evenings, and you'll see the energy savings quickly start to add up. It's not a bad idea to keep the thermostat lower all day long, and just wear a sweater in the house. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. Turning the thermostat down at night means staying warm in other ways - flannel sheets and a king size down comforter will help you stay comfortable even in cold tempertures. We don't have heat in our houseand nights get down to 60 degrees, but with my king size down comforter I never feel cold. |