Save Electricty By Being Smart W/ Appliances

Every time you use power up an electronic device, household appliance or light bulb you are placing demand on the electricity that comes into your home. Electricity is created by burning coal, a fossil fuel whose emissions are a major contributor to harmful greenhouse gases, pollution and global warming. Practicing energy conservation and becoming more energy efficient around the house will help you save electricity which is good for the environment and will reduce your monthly electric bill.

Conservation refers to limiting your energy use while efficiency means making the most out of the electricity you use. Simple conservation measures like being vigilant about turning off lights when you leave a room will help decrease the amount of electricity you use. Reducing your use of household systems and appliances is another easy, no-cost way to save electricity. Heating and cooling your home and running major appliances account for the major of your household’s electricity demand. Running only full loads in your washing machine, dryer and dishwasher means you will use these devices less often. Always using cold water for clothes washing and hanging clothes to dry in lieu of running the dryer are extra measures you can take to abate your annual electricity use.

If your major appliances are old and outdated consider replacing them with energy-efficient models that require far less electricity to perform the same tasks. Appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines are affixed with a black and yellow label that provides information about their efficiency and offers comparisons to other comparable models. Ask your salesperson to help you read the label so you can choose the model that will meet your needs and save the most electricity. Consider how many appliances you need to run. If you have an extra refrigerator or freezer for cold storage, determine if you can consolidate into one energy-efficient refrigerator.

Properly maintaining your home’s heating and cooling systems will save electricity and extend the life of these units. Installing programmable thermostats will amount to significant savings by lowering the temperature in your home during the hours it is unoccupied and at night. Keeping the temperature at a recommended 68 degrees in the winter while you are home will help you cut down on your electricity use. Adopting this same habit in the summer of raising the temperature a few degrees will also add to savings.

Heating water requires a lot of energy. Use cold water, not hot, to rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher if you do not have a high-efficiency dishwasher that does not require pre-rinsing. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater to 120 degrees. This temperature is sufficient for sanitation and comfortable for bathing. Choose showering over bathing to save electricity and shorten your shower time by two minutes. To make your hot water heater more efficient, wrap it in an inexpensive insulating jacket available at most hardware or home improvement stores.

Replacing incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) is a small step that can add up to big electricity savings. The CFL bulbs require less electricity and last longer than traditional bulbs.