It may be that we associate
those who
turn green to save money with the tree-huggers of
the sixties. It may be that to save
money on
electric bill requires doing things
we had not thought
possible. It may be that we just
were not informed
what we could do. Such is the case for
most people
in the US, where energy prices are rising with record
speed, shooting
up like mercury in a thermometer-they
just are misinformed or unaware of
possible energy saving tricks.
We know not everyone
is an eco-minded individual, but who does not want to
shave dollars off
the power bill? Across Illinois recently, the 10 year
rate freeze on power has driven many to
find alternative sources of power,
become more
energy efficient, and learn more about heating and cooling their homes.
It can be seen as good experience, as it forces
people to
look
at how they consume
energy. What is happening in Illinois is also happening in many other
states across the country (look at the Residential
Electricity Prices to see power costs across the country). People are learning ways to
cut costs in order
to keep up with the rising costs of power. Aside from
pushing legislature to enact more rate freezes, a person
can learn some tricks to lower
their own costs.
Turn Green to Save Money
There are different levels of
turning green. How dark a shade do you
want to be? The darkest shade of course
being those who
rely wholly on
renewable energy sources, like wind
and the sun. The cost to install and to
operate wind and solar power
can be astronomical
in comparison
to traditional
electrical sources. Many of us will not
be turning darker shades of green,
but doing things a little lighter,
like installing more energy
efficient light bulbs throughout the house,
purchasing energy efficient washers, dryers, stoves,
and dishwashers, as well as energy efficient furnaces, water heaters, and air conditioners.
The Infinite Power website
sets out instructions for creating residential wind and solar power solutions.
But for those who wish to cut down costs using more economical means, a site
like Thrifty Fun
connects you to other individuals who are attempting to cut costs on power. The
ideas found here may be helpful and you can contribute to the discussion as
well.
More Ways to
Save Money on
Electric Bill
There are other
things to consider
when trying to save money on your
electric bill. For instance, if you live in a cold
weather climate, do you notice
the snow on
your roof melting before
you neighbor's
snow on
their roof?
This could be due to poor insulation
in the attic. Having more insulation in the attic can greatly reduce energy costs, as heat rising will not
seep out to
the roof,
melting the snow away. Cooling a
home with poor insulation
will also cost
more and more
money to
keep the house cool. At ChoosetoSave.org,
a person can read about proper insulation, as well as other ways to save money
on your electric bill.
Know the Energy Costs
Many electric readers are now
electronic, allowing homeowners to
view their daily, weekly, and monthly
usage. The information this provides
can greatly enhance your own understanding of
how to
save money on
electric bill. As the old adage
says, knowledge is power, and knowing
how many kilowatts
are being sapped everyday can enable and encourage
you to
make necessary changes to daily routines. The Consumer's Power Inc.
site combines the knowledge of your monthly usage with the cost of specific
appliances within the home. In order to save money on electric bill, homeowners
can use their online calculator to determine the cost of running an appliance,
and then attempt to cut the costs through limited use. By knowing the
kilowatts/hr. of an appliance, a homeowner can effectively cut their energy
costs.
Lowering Energy Costs
through Common Sense
We all heard growing
up to turn the lights out when we left a room. The same is true today.
Although we have electronics we think can stay on
to infinity, we should really be turning the computer
off every night in order to
save money on
electric bill. This small thing can amount
to a few dollars
off the bill every month. Also,
some people
have reverted to hang drying their
clothes outdoors.
This can reduce the amount of power
used by eliminating the use of an
electric dryer.
Using Natural Light to Save Money
The sun does not cost a
dime to light a kitchen. In fact,
direct sunlight through a carefully
placed skylight can increase the ambiance of
a space and invigorate those enjoying
the direct sunlight even in the depths of
winter. By installing well placed, energy efficient windows
and skylights throughout a home,
a homeowner
can greatly reduce their energy usage. Be sure to
use double paned windows, as the energy savings can be magnified. These
types of improvements
on a home
can also be a tax break for a homeowner! The U.S. Department of Energy
describes energy efficient ways to save money on an electric bill. They talk
about everything from strategic windows to planting shade trees.
However a person does
it, the need to reduce energy costs has increased in recent years. As we have seen
all throughout
the nation, people
are finding ways, creative and otherwise,
to save money
on electric bill. A homeowner
can arm themselves with knowledge of kilowatt
usage and cost, how to lower usage by installing more
energy efficient appliances, and through
installing more energy efficient
heating and cooling
systems in their home. We may not be entirely green, but at least we can save money on
the electric bill.
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