How to Save Money On Utilites

There are several things you can do to lower your monthly energy bills.  Follow as many of these as you can and you will find that you can lower your annual energy costs by hundreds of dollars a year.

•  Wash clothes in cold water.  This doesn’t save on the amount of water, but it does save on electricity or gas costs substantially.When your current appliances wear out, get energy star rated appliances, especially the refrigerator.      
• Ditch the tank water heater and get an on-demand tankless water heater.  These are the kind they use in Europe; the water is always hot and you will save a bundle on not having to heat water in a tank all day long.  You only heat water when you need it.
• Run the A/C only when you really have to have it, like just before going to bed to cool the house down.  Use fans instead during the day.
   
• If you run the A/C all day, then raise the setting a few degrees, i.e. 74 to 77or 78 degrees.  Every degree you raise the thermostat you will save about 6% on your energy bill.
• Shorten the time you use the dryer.  Take out shirts, dresses and slacks while they are still a little bit damp.  Then hang them up.  This will help reduce the wrinkling too. Hang clothes and towels/sheets on the clothesline instead of using the dryer in the summer.  Yes, its more work, but the exercise is good for you and you’ll save a lot on lower energy bills.
• Replace regular light bulbs with long life low energy light bulbs.  Yes, I know what you’re thinking. They’re flourescent bulbs and who wants florescent bulbs in their house?  Well, now there are long life low energy bulbs that have the same ‘natural’ light as a regular light bulb.  I know Phillips makes them and I’ll bet the other big names like GE do too.  These last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs and will save you anywhere between $10 - $50 yr.
• Lower the temperature on your tank hot water heater to between 110 and 120 degrees.  This will save about $15 - $40/yr.
• Get a hot water heater tank insullation kit.  Once put on the water heater you can save about $40/yr.  
   
• Never have your thermostat higher than 68 in the winter and lower than 78 in the summer.
• Vacuum off the refrigerator coils in the back of your refrigerator every few months.  This will save on how often your fridge cycles on and off.
• Call your electric company and ask them to come out and do a free energy audit.  You will be surprised.     
• Water the grass sometime in the very early morning, say 3 or 4 if you have automatic sprinklers.  If you don’t,  then water after dark in the evening.  You can do it for much less time and it will keep the grass and plants damp for several hours since the sun isn’t up yet.  Don’t water every day.  Most plants don’t need water every day.
• Don’t run the water while you’re brushing your teeth or shaving.  Only turn it on when you need it.
   
• Turn off lights if you are not in the room.
• Turn off the computer at night.