Home Energy Savings


Energy Efficiency


Residential Energy

Easy Ways to Cut Your Electric Bill

Besides switching off lights, there are several other easy ways to cut your electric bill. One way is to focus room lighting where you need it as opposed to brightly lighting the entire room.

Easy Ways to Cut Your Electric Bill - Plug Ins

• Look for all those devices that have digital displays such as DVD players, TVs, alarm clocks, calculators and so on. If these items are located in an area (such as a guest room) and are used infrequently, unplug them.
• Unplug devices used to recharge electronics or batteries when they are not being used.

Easy Ways to Cut Your Electric Bill - Appliances

• Wait until your dishwasher if full before you run it. And if you have a heated-dry option, switch it off. Prop open the door a little after the cycle is completed to air dry your dishes.
• If you have an electric cooktop, turn the burners off a couple of minutes before the end of the cooking time. The heating element will stay hot long enough to finish the cooking without using more electricity

Easy Ways to Cut Your Electric Bill - Refrigerators

• Refrigerators use more power than any other appliance in your home. Newer model refrigerators are more energy efficient and use as little as half the electricity than older models. If your budget can afford it, consider upgrading your refrigerator.
• Full refrigerators run more efficiently than ones that are only partially full. Try to keep your refrigerator stocked with groceries.
• Make sure the seals on your refrigerator are tight. If the seals are not tight, they will need to be replaced.
• Place your food and liquids in airtight containers. Uncovered food will release moisture and make the compressor run more.
• Vacuum the condenser coils yearly at a minimum. Refrigerators will run less with clean coils.

Easy Ways to Cut Your Electric Bill - Lighting

• Turn off lights that are not being used. Consider installing timers on some lights or install occupancy sensors that turn on and off automatically when someone enters or leaves a room.
• Use dimmer switches and three-way lamps. These provide low light when bright lights are not necessary.
• Use linear fluorescent and energy-efficient compact Fluorescent lamps (CFLs) throughout your home to provide high-quality and high-efficiency lighting. Fluorescent lamps will last six to ten times longer than incandescent bulbs.