Save Money on Your Electric Bill - Conserve Energy

With the recent downturn in the economy, I'mbill. Also, strategically located shade trees can save
sure many are asking, 'How can I save money onyou a tremendous amount of money on your
my electric bill ?' If you're not, you probably shouldhome cooling. Of course slower growing varieties
be. Usually, all but those that are consciouslymay take years for you to realize the benefits. If
making an effort to conserve energy, arebuilding a new home, make sure to consider
wasting much more than they even realize.trees, as well as other shrubs and bushes for
Studies have shown that the United Statesshade and as windbreaks.
spends (wastes ?) more in energy beingHot Water Heater
consumed by so-called phantom electrical devices,Many of the hot water heaters still in use today
than it takes to power every house on theare highly inefficient. Even the newer, higher
continent of Australia...and them some! Phantomefficiency heaters cost a great deal to operate.
devices are those that continuously draw currentKeeping a large tank of water 50-70 degrees
to power LCD displays, retain the informationabove the room temperature requires a great
stored in digital memories, and keep the 'off'deal of energy. You can offset this by lowering
device in an always ready state, or partiallythe thermostat. If it's set at 140 degrees, you're
operating.wasting a lot of money, and natural resources.
If you feel that your utility bill is much higher thanLower it to 120 degrees at the highest, but most
it should be, then no doubt it probably is. Even ifpeople can even get along with it set at 110
you think 'it's not that bad,' well, you probably stilldegrees. Many people don't notice a difference,
have a lot of money that could be saved byexcept in their electric bill.
practicing common sense, responsible methods ofAlso, insulate the first 6 feet of pipes attached to
reducing your home energy consumption.the water heater, and the tank itself. The
As far as electricity is concerned in residential use,majority of homeowners overlook this saving tip.
the biggest power drains come from cooling yourUndoubtedly though, the best method of saving
home, heating water, and your refrigerator.money on conventional water heating is to install
Obviously, all of these are necessary, but there'san 'on-demand', or tank-less heater. These highly
usually much to be saved.efficient devices can usually save upwards of
Cooling30% on water heating. Tank-less water heaters
Have your central air conditioning unit checkedare 80-99% efficient. This kind of saving over an
regularly, and make sure that the unit is keptextended period can be many thousands of
clean. A common problem is grass clippings beingdollars. That's a lot of coal that doesn't have to be
discharged on the unit while mowing the lawn.burned, or a lot of nuclear waste that doesn't
Also, if it's not very hot, and the air conditioner ishave to be generated to heat your water.
not really needed, open some windows and letActually, depending on how much you want to
the fresh air in, save some money, and cut downinvest, a solar water heater is the absolute best
on energy use. Also, raise the temperature away to save money heating your water. After
couple of degrees on the thermostat. Manyjust a few years the unit has paid for itself and
people come in from a hot day after beingoperates virtually free, usually for many, many
outside and think it's not cool enough. Well, beforeyears.
your lower the thermostat, sit down and relax,Refrigerator
have a cold drink and you'll find it's perfectlyLastly, I believe that most people don't realize the
comfortable at a couple of degrees warmer. Justwaste usually associated with operating a
a 2 degree difference can save you a veryrefrigerator. A refrigerator obviously has to try
substantial sum of money in the long term.and keep a constant temperature 24 hours a
Get a programmable digital thermostat. There's noday, 365 days a year. If you need something
reason to keep your home cool if there's no onefrom the refrigerator, know exactly what you
there. If you don't get home until early evening,want before you open the door. It doesn't take
just program the thermostat to start cooling themore than a few seconds for the temperature to
house a little before you arrive. There's a lot ofrise significantly with the door open, but the
money to be saved to be saved here. Just keeprefrigerator will have to operate for many times
in mind that you don't usually want to turn the airlonger to cool it back down.
conditioner off if it's very hot outside. This can beAlso, if you've had your refrigerator for many
counterproductive because the unit will then haveyears, it may be coming to the end of it's useful
to run nonstop for an extended period to coollife. Obviously, most people don't want to throw
your home back down. A programmableout a working appliance, but if it's replaced with a
thermostat will also allow you to realize savingshigh efficiency unit, it may be worth it. At least
during the cold months by letting you controlyou can be assured that you've just lowered
when the house needs to be warmed foryour monthly utility bill, avoided the hassle of
occupancy, and when you can allow it to be a littlehaving your refrigerator fail and having to rush
cooler, such as when you're away, or sleeping.out and purchase a new one immediately, and
One of the best areas in which to save money inyou've taken a big step in doing your part to
home cooling (and heating) is obvious, but it isconserve energy and slow global warming.
often overlooked. Make sure your home isThere's many methods you can incorporate into
properly insulated. The areas that are the drainsyour energy saving plan. However, the best
on your finances are doors and windows. If youmethod of saving a staggering amount of money,
can feel air rushing around a door or window, youand the planet in the process, is by generating
effectively have a furnace and air conditioneryou own clean, renewable, virtually free electricity.
operating at the same time, with you footing the