6 Simple Ways to Save on your Electricity Bill

For my first few blog posts I've wrote mostly about the effects of addiction on savings. For this post I'm going to get down to some very simple nitty gritty ways to save money on your electricity bill. Please feel free to comment and share additional ways that you save!

1. Install a Programmable Thermostat
These thermostats usually range in cost between $20-$60 depending on the level of options. But even a simple $20 programmable thermostat can do the trick. Simply put if your only running your A/C or heat when your actually at home your saving money, big money. Your A/C / Heat Pump is usually the biggest electricity hog in your home.

2. Tweak Your Water Heater
You can do this in three simple ways. Lower the heating temperature of the water. For most households a tank temperature of 120 degrees is plenty hot and obviously the lower you set the temp the more you will save. You can also install water efficient shower heads. This not only saves water, but also reduces the amount of water that must be heated through your water heater, this save you $$$ !!! Lastly you can install insulation around the tank itself and the lead water pipes. (this is more important if you live in a cold climate where your tank may be in the garage or basement)

3. Fridge :
Turn up the temperature of your fridge - There is a balance between optimal food freshness and temperature. Keeping your fridge at near freezing temperatures and your freezer at sub zero temps is wasting electricity and in turn $$$.

4. Lighting
An easy switch is replacing your incandescent bulbs with energy efficient CFL's. Many people complain that the light is too "artificial" or white. If this is you, look for the newer bulbs that are categorized as "warm white". The past couple of years have led to cfl's being much more pleasing to the eyes.
(in the coming years LED's will be the bulb of the future, but for now they are usually too expensive to justify the upfront costs)

5. Optimize your TV
When you first open your new flat screen LCD/Plasma HDTV it is coming with settings that are not only usually too bright but also not the optimal viewing experience. You can do a search on the internet of your make and model TV and find professionally optimized settings for your set. Turning down the back-light and brightness can not only use less electricity but it will also lead to greater enjoyment of your TV, and longer bulb life.

6. Computer/Laptop
When possible leave your computer off, and use a laptop instead, they consume much less electricity. Also make sure that you are enabling sleep or hibernation modes on your machines so that they reduce electrical use when you are not using them. If you must use a computer set up all of your peripherals on a power strip and turn off everything when you are not using them. the same is true for your tv/surround sound system

These simple steps can save you big on your electricity bill.

Discussion Question : What tricks do you have for saving on your electricity bill?