11 Tips for Saving Electricity

You hear it on the news and read it in the newspapers all the time---saving energy, energy consrvation or green living. Whatever name it is known by we can and should do our part in helping out the environment. Conserving energy not only helps our planet, it also helps us save money, and who doesn't need some extra cash in their pockets these days. One simple way we can save is on our electricity bills. There are so many little things we can do to save, here are just a few simple ideas for you to try.

Here's a simple one, turn off all lights and fans when not in use. Whenever you leave a room, be sure to turn them off.

Many electronics come with a standby mode, for example, flat panel televisions. These electronics are still using electricity and can account for up to 5-10% of use. An easy way to stop this is to connect your appliances to a power strip that can be turned off when not in use.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with flourescent ones. Flourescent bulbs are a bit more costly but they will save you more money in the long run.

Your home needs to be properly insulated, it's easy for cool air to leak through cracks in windows and doors. a properly insulated home can improve energy efficiency by as much as 20%.

Your refrigerator is one of the biggest energy users in your home so make sure it is properly maintained.

Use as much natural light in the day time as possible.

Unplug cell phone chargers when not in use. Did you know that these chargers still use energy even if the phone is not attached?

Plant more trees around the house. Trees help with cooling in the summer and insulating inthe winter.

Try to only purchase energy efficient appliances.

Check weatherstripping on all exterior doors to make sure they are in good shape. Replace them if they are not.

Use a programmable electronic thermostat for your cooling and heating needs. You can program this device to automatically adjust settings to energy saving levels. This is great when you are away from the house or asleep.

Controlling your energy consumption is not as hard as you may think. If you make a conscious effort you can save yourself lots of money on electricity bills. It could be as simple as switching on a light.

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