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RSSGreening Up Your Electric Bill without Purchasing a Thing
GreenWerks | 
Jan 9th, 2012 | 
More often than not, when I stumble across a “cut-your-electricity-cost” article online, I find suggestions that all involve me purchasing something. Whether it’s a newer, better, more energy-efficient heater, new CFL lights to replace my regular standard lightbulbs or getting rid of old appliances and replacing them for Energy Star appliances, they almost all involve upfront cost.
And, that’s not to say that none of those suggestions will work, they most likely will; however, what I’m usually interested in more than anything is simple changes I can make in my home that don’t involve extra cost. If you’re searching for additional ways you can cut down your energy bills this winter, consider some of these helpful tips that will help you conserve energy and save on your electrical bill, especially when it comes to heating for the winter.
Research Fuel Costs in Your Area
First things first. Do a little background research into what various fuels cost in your region. Depending upon where you live, it may make more sense to use your electric heaters more often or it may make more sense to use those powered by natural fuels. If you already have multiple options and you discover that one is more affordable than another, you can use that one as your primary source.
Check on Peak Hours
There are various electricity providers who operate with a peak hour schedule. During these peak hours, it costs more to use the same amount of electricity. Place a call in to your provider to check and see if this exists in your area. If so, you may be getting charged extra unknowingly and if so, can change how and when you use your major appliances to avoid those peak times.
Section of Areas of Your Home
There’s a likely chance you have a room or two that you use infrequently, if you even use them at all. Perhaps it’s an outdated reading room, a guest room or a large water storage closet. If you don’t need these rooms, section them off from the house and mark them off limits. Keep the door closed and even consider sealing around the doors or at the very least, placing door draft stoppers to keep your warm air from seeping in and likewise, the cold air from the room from coming in.
Decrease Your Central Heat
In the event you are at home during the day, consider what your normal day looks like and whether or not you spend more time in just one or two rooms. If this is the case, as in working out of a home office, turn off central heat for the day and take the chill off of your room with a small portable heater. Same goes for nighttime. Since you will be in just one room, there’s no sense in heating the whole house. A small heater works well here as well, as does a heated mattress pad or heated blanket if you have one on hand.
Turn Down the Thermostats
You can easily cut down your bill by simply turning down your home thermostat two degrees from what you normally run it at, and it will only take your body a week or two to acclimate. In the meantime, simply don an extra layer to make up for the difference. Another area to turn down is your hot water heater. Most come set to a standard 140 degrees, but it is highly unlikely you would ever use or need water this hot. Turning it down to 120 degrees will greatly decrease your bill, and you should never notice the difference outside of the cost.
Optimize Your Fans
If you’re using fans in your home, check to see if they have a reverse setting. Most do, but most are usually set to forward for the summer months. If yours has not been switched to the “reverse” pattern for winter, switch it now. This will propel and push down the hot air that rises, bringing it back down to a level where you can feel it, enjoy it and not notice the urge to turn the heat up so often.
Clean Your Furnace Filters
A simple cleaning of your furnace filters can cut down the amount of energy you use, making it easier for air to be pushed through without increasing the amount of energy needed. As they get filled with dust and dirt, it requires more work on the part of your fan to blow hot air through.
Author Jocelyn Anne writes on behalf of Air & Water, a company dedicated to doing everything possible to provide families with the greenest, most affordable ways to heat and cool their homes.
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- Home Insulation
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- Heating and Air Conditioning
Central heating these days is becoming more and more inefficient as more and more people cease to use it. This of course causes the prices for using it to increase and thus affecting your bill. Choosing another heating solution during colder months will soon be obligatory. With a small investment in good external and internal isolation you can save a lot of money on heating during winter and cooling during summer.
That was quite helpful. Finally someone to suggest ideas that can actually work, but not only trying to sell you another device. Everyone can think about the time they spend at home and the way they use the space.
As much as possible I wanted to minimize the use of electricity in our house. I don’t have any idea on how I could do this because I thought everything runs on electricity. Good thing you posted some suggestions. It’s really very helpful.