Tips to save money on electricity

Discussion in Gas & Electricity started by Konstantina • Apr 17, 2012.

  1. Konstantina

    KonstantinaActive Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Threads:
    58
    Messages:
    155
    Likes Received:
    1
    Hi everyone! Here are the best tips I gathered from a little research, that we can all do and that actually make sense. - Cook with the right appliance. Small portions with small pots. DOn't use your big pot if you are cooking a small meal, even if it easier for you. - Clean air conditioner's filters. Clean filters require less energy and less time to reach the desired result. - Adjust the temperature in everything you use; warm water gets wasted most of the times because it is too hot, the air conditioner shouldn't make you feel you want to run around in your t-shirt, and your fridge doesn't have to resemble Alaska to keep milk fresh. - Turn everything off when not in use. I don't know about you guys, but although I have heard it a million times, I don't always manage to do that. - Don't use the dishwasher for a couple of dishes, nor the washing machine for a couple of clotes. Wait a bit! Soon there will be more :)
     
  2. buroo

    burooNew Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2012
    Threads:
    0
    Messages:
    5
    Likes Received:
    0
    Very good tips for saving gas and electricity, particularly the ones for saving gas are really great and very handy. You know what, saving energy of any kind is not only good for your pocket but it also develops the right attitude of not being extravagant in a person and being compatible with what one have and it also makes all of us more responsible.
     
  3. racechick79

    racechick79Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2012
    Threads:
    19
    Messages:
    171
    Likes Received:
    1
    If you are able, I also suggest putting up a clothes line outside. My mother always hung clothes out on the line and I thought everybody did - until I moved out on my own and realized how few people actually do. We have one in our back yard so that it isn't out for all to see, but when I lived in an apartment and couldn't have one outside, I had a plastic dryer that you can find at places like Menards or Fleet Farm. We also use that during the winter months. We will put things like jeans or towels in the dryer for a few minutes and then will hang them up. You would be surprised how much you can save just by not using the dryer as much! It is amazing!
     
  4. Budget Diva

    Budget DivaNew Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    Threads:
    9
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hanging clothes up or outside does save an amazing chunk of change. Last month I decided to do a test. I was not going to use my dryer at all. I hung everything up inside and out. I like to use my shower rod to hang blankets and such. When I received my bill I was amazed!
     
  5. dconklin

    dconklinActive Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2012
    Threads:
    38
    Messages:
    406
    Likes Received:
    2
    Unplug all things that do not need to be plugged in. Many of your appliances and electronic devices use electricity whether they are on or not. If it has a little LED to display the power status, if it has a clock or any kind of display it uses electricity when not on. Great tips you have listed!
     
  6. Renzaku

    RenzakuNew Member

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2012
    Threads:
    0
    Messages:
    12
    Likes Received:
    0
    The only things that I usually do around the house to save some electricity/money would be to turn off (and unplug) power bars when the appliances that are plugged into them are not being used, replacing light bulbs with the new energy efficient ones (the colour of the light kind of sucks, but it saves quite a bit of money), and hang clothes instead of using the drier.
     
  7. Adeal4u

    Adeal4uActive Member

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2012
    Threads:
    36
    Messages:
    613
    Likes Received:
    4
    I managed to save money on my electricity bill by installing LED light bulbs. These are very cost efficient, and they rarely have to be changed. I manually do the dishes, rather than running the dishwasher. I limit the uses of using the washing machine to once a week.

    By doing this you will start to see the savings each month. I have bought small led monitors in my home instead of big screen TV's. They run less power and it is equivalent to running two light bulbs.

    My last tip would be unplug laptops and computers when they are not in use. Sometimes people leave their computer running all day long, and it drains unnecessary power.
     
  8. Konstantina

    KonstantinaActive Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Threads:
    58
    Messages:
    155
    Likes Received:
    1
    These are great suggestions as well, but you should know that washing the dishes by hand actually costs you more money and water. So be careful with this one.
     
  9. MissyMiss

    MissyMissNew Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2012
    Threads:
    0
    Messages:
    4
    Likes Received:
    0
    I never even thought about using smaller pots to save electricity. I had no clue that the size of my pots mattered. Thanks for the tips!
     
  10. hunysukle

    hunysukleActive Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2012
    Threads:
    82
    Messages:
    379
    Likes Received:
    4
    I have found that using energy efficient light bulbs has helped me save on electricity. In addition, doing laundry just once a week can also lower your electricity bill. I also hang out my clothes to dry and always turn off lights when I'm not using them.
     
  11. Hickorycottage

    HickorycottageMember

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2012
    Threads:
    8
    Messages:
    57
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks for the reminder! I was taught these things while growing up, but I've been guilty of all from time to time. It's good to hear it again. We also use the energy efficient light bulbs. The initial investment is more, but they don't need to be replaced nearly as often.
     
  12. Linky

    LinkyExpert

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Threads:
    2
    Messages:
    546
    Likes Received:
    1
    Great tips and thank you to all. I have been told that a dishwasher is more energy efficient than using the old fashioned way...I must admit: I question that. I cannot believe that running a machine on electricity is more efficient, than simply dipping your dishes in hot water.

    There must be an even more efficient way!

    We also use LED lighting and that is the singular most electricity saving thing we have done. It uses a small amount of energy and it is environmentally friendly.

    Knowing what wattage your electric globes are is very helpful in saving money on electricity, it is amazing how much energy some of those little globes in reading lamps can cost you! And how much getting a more energy efficient one can save you!
     
  13. AliDee

    AliDeeMember

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Threads:
    6
    Messages:
    65
    Likes Received:
    0
    I tried various ways to see what is better and what helps and I usually switch everything thing off AND unplug them from wall sockets. Reason being, even though wall sockets are switched off, the appliance is still drawing a small current of electricity.
     
  14. dissn_it

    dissn_itActive Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2012
    Threads:
    29
    Messages:
    985
    Likes Received:
    8
    These are really useful tips and I actually learned a few new ones that I didn't know about. I didn't know about the pot size but have been doing that one anyways!
     
  15. cashmoneybil

    cashmoneybilNew Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2012
    Threads:
    2
    Messages:
    13
    Likes Received:
    1
    These are great tips and many are very easy to do and take little effort on your part. I particularly like the changing light bulbs to more energy efficient blubs and the unplugging of electronics that you are not using. I have tons around my house that I didn't even think about that are using power. Another huge money saver is to install ceiling fans and use them instead of air conditioning. You can also use a space heater to just heat rooms you are in rather then a central system that heats the whole house. I also recommend simply turning off lights when not using them and sleeping your computer when not in use.
     
  16. BestCrispAir

    BestCrispAirNew Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2012
    Threads:
    7
    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    I told my nieces when they spent a summer with us that we were going to look for the "Energy Pirate" who was stealing our vacation "Gold Doubloons". I gave each of them 5 little plastic gold coins. We went in their room and I charged them a doubloon for each "Pirate Scallywag" item that we found. Big offender? Curtains pulled open for the light in rooms where no one was. Closing the curtains reduced the temperature of the room 15 degrees in 15 minutes. Next offender? Rechargeable batteries sitting in the charger for days on end. Next on the list was an MP3 player plugged in that they had not turned on in 3 weeks.
    It takes so little to get children involved. We calculated the costs for making/canning preserving food, and that is what we did for a part of the summer. Our final cost per jar of jelly ended up being .35 cents per jar, and we knew what was in it, too! Each month, that they were there, we scrutinized the bills and the savings went into a jar so that they could SEE the money we saved. In the three months that they were there, we reduced the bills by $569.21. Not bad! That money went towards a little holiday for us, and we saved money on that, too!
     
  17. SarahLizzie

    SarahLizzieActive Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2012
    Threads:
    30
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    3
    I changed all the light bulbs in my house to the LED bulbs, I make sure I shut everything off and unplug it while it is not in use, and really only run my air conditioner when absolutely necessary. These things have helped reduce my electric bill significanty.
     
  18. Mrs. Pirz

    Mrs. PirzExpert

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2012
    Threads:
    22
    Messages:
    463
    Likes Received:
    3
    This is wonderful! I would love to have my kids involved in energy saving and preserving when they are old enough of course. I think that seeing savings really helps and gives you more of a drive, especially when handling it with children. I love the food preserving part - I think mostly everyone should take advantage of doing this because it really is an incredible way to save and you are using natural resources.
     
  19. ValerieAnne

    ValerieAnneMember

    Joined:
    May 14, 2012
    Threads:
    5
    Messages:
    59
    Likes Received:
    0
    The biggest tip I have is to unplug everything you aren't using. You use just as much electricity with the items plugged in but not turned on as you do if you have the item on all the time.
     
  20. Zyni

    ZyniWell-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2014
    Threads:
    436
    Messages:
    1,722
    Likes Received:
    558
    This is good advice, but it can be difficult to get other people in the household to begin practicing such good habits. One way to make it easy is to plug in similar items into a power strip. Then, instead of having to plug in and unplug each individual component every time, you (or they) can simply flip the switch on the power strip to off, thus shutting off everything at once. Of course, you have to be organized in which devices are plugged in together, but say chargers for example.