Lower Energy Bills Part IV Breaking Old Habits To $ave $$$

Electricity is one of those things we don’t even think about until we get one of those bills that break the bank! Then we start to pay attention. We run about for a few days turning off lights and TV’s when we leave a room. But after a while, we seem to forget and go back to our old ways. Well, now is the time to break those old Habits and save some money while doing so good for the planet we love so much! How do we save money while maintaining our cushy lifestyles, you ask? Simple little things that don’t leave you in the dark, but can save your money each day, I respond!

One easy Habit to break is to unplug your gadgets while not using them. Chargers use power even when not being used, so unplug your laptop, iPod, MP3 and cell phone chargers when not in use. Now that doesn’t hurt at all!

TVs, DVRs and such all use power when in the “off” position, so you might want to consider plugging them into a power strip and turning the strip off and on when you need to watch TV. It might take a few moments for the TV to reset, but you will save money over the course of the day. If you are not watching TV for 19 or so hours a day, why do you want to pay for the power?

Another Habit to change is our light bulbs. Of course we all know to replace our usual light bulbs with compact fluorescents(CPL). According to Popular Science, CFLs require about 25% of the power that incandescent light bulbs use for the same amount of light. So cut your power bill without cutting your light. Also, dust your fixtures frequently. And turn them off with the ceiling fans!

Look at your kitchen appliances. Are there counter top items that can be put on a power strip or just unplugged until needed? What about your refrigerator/freezer? Are the coils cleaned frequently? Read your manual for the refrigerator to learn the most energy saving temperatures to use.

Break the Oven Habit: consider using the microwave or toaster oven when baking smaller items. And remember to unplug them too! Just how many clocks do you need in one room? When replacing appliances, look for Energy Star ® to save more money.

Now none of these $$$$ $aving tips will hurt! And you will $ave $$$$. Enlist your family’s help, turn the children into the Energy Spies and reward them for saving energy. Compare your power bill after a month of being conscience of your energy usage and see the difference a few moments of thought can make!