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improving north carolina one home at a time

What Techniques Can I Use to Lower My Electric Bill?

save money on energy billsEnergy saving bulbs.
One of the simplest and cheapest ways to save power in the average household is to replace all the regular (incandescent) light bulbs with energy saving CFL (compact fluorescent light) type bulbs.

 

Unplug appliances when not in use.
Many modern appliances, audiovisual products and computers and related devices do not fully switch off when not in use. Mostly they go into a standby mode and are still drawing small amounts of power. A lot of devices drawing a small amount of power each can add up to a lot of power over time. The basic guideline is – if there is a light, no matter how small, burning anywhere on the device then it is consuming power.

 

Use power strips.
Going around the house to switch off or unplug devices not in use can be a real chore. Make this process by using power strips, especially the smart type.

 

Use your dishwasher carefully & sparingly.
Only run your dishwasher with a full load. Use the energy saving or short cycle whenever possible. Avoid the heat dry option unless absolutely necessary. If you have only a few items to wash, e.g. breakfast dishes, either hand wash and allow to air dry or wait until there are enough dishes to make up a full load.

 

Investigate technology based power saving devices.
Examples of this would be:
• Solar heating systems that complement the supply from your power company
• Devices that collect and store unused power from motor-based appliances in the home and recycle it back into the home as needed