Save some cash!

Who here enjoys paying their electric bill each month?  *sound of crickets* Yep, pretty much what I thought!  I wanted to compile a list of some simple things we can all do to help lower our bills.  Some of the things on this list may seem pretty obvious, but I am a fan of stating the obvious as sometimes the most obvious things are the things that are most often overlooked.

1) Unplug your chargers and laptops when not in use:  Did you know that even when your gadgets aren't plugged in to the charger, that charger is still sucking juice?  It may not amount to much...but over time this adds up.  Every penny counts, so try to get in the habit of unplugging your chargers when they aren't in use.

2) Hang clothes to dry outside: OK, so right now it is pretty hard to think about hanging clothes to dry with the snow still flying, but I promise!  Someday... Spring will officially arrive!  This is an obvious one, I know, but it really is worth the extra effort to hang those towels out to dry!  Here's another tip... when washing your clothes, wash them in cold water rather than hot.  The Department of Energy estimates that 90% of the cost of doing laundry comes from the fuel to run your water heater, not from the electricity to run the machine itself. 

3) In the summer, turn down the water heater: Even a few degrees can make a difference and save you some extra cash.  If the upcoming summer temperatures are going to be anything like they were last year, who wants to take a super hot shower when its 95 degrees outside?

4)  Put your home entertainment system on its own circuit: Especially if you own a Plasma T.V., these bad boys pull a lot of juice!  Put all of your DVD players, game consoles, T.V., etc on its own power strip so you can turn it off when you aren't using them.  Ever wonder what kind of T.V. is the most energy efficient?  The following link has some great information providing average energy costs on Plasmas vs LCD vs LED's.

http://www.rtings.com/info/lcd-vs-led-vs-plasma/power-consumption-and-electricity-cost

5) Install a digital thermostat: If you haven't done so already, have one of these installed!  Giving your furnace/AC a break during the work day can save you quite a bit of money over time on your bill.  According to Energy Star, you could shave $180 annually off of your bill.  Also closing your blinds in the summer time can help to keep the sunlight out, and can aid in cooling off your home during those hot summer days.

6) Avoid chores: Yep!  I said it!  OK, well don't avoid them entirely... just choose the right time of day to do them.  In the summer time, your AC has to work harder the hotter the space is.  So it would stand to reason that avoiding things that generate heat (using your oven, dryer, dishwasher) during the peak of the hot day will ease a little bit of the burden on your AC unit.  Try and wait until night falls to run these appliances.