Why pay more for electricity than you need to? Reducing your energy costs is a great way to free up a little more money in your budget. However, if you're conscious about your electricity use already, you may already be implementing basic strategies like using CFL bulbs, keeping the fridge closed, and turning off lights when you're not in the room. Are you ready to go above and beyond to save even more? Here are three strategies to try.
Cut back on washing and drying.
Clothes washers and dryers use a lot of electricity, so cutting back even a little bit will help keep your bills in check. Try wearing your pants several times before washing them. Don't run the washer until you have a full, large load. Be extra careful when you're trying on clothes that the clean ones end up back in your closet instead of in the hamper accidentally.
You can cut back on dryer use by stringing up a clothes line outside your house or apartment and letting your clothes blow in the breeze to dry instead of placing them in the electric dryer. You can even hang clothes on a drying rack indoors during the winter. Just space out your loads if you do this, since an abundance of wet clothing can raise the humidity levels in your home and lead to mold. If you have forced-air heating, placing the drying rack in front of a vent will help the clothes dry faster.
Minimize your TV time.
Your television is another appliance that uses a great deal of electricity. Cut back on its use as much as possible to save. Never leave the TV on in the background when you're barely paying attention to it and doing other things. If you really need that background noise, play some music or an online video on your smartphone.
Try setting a TV limit for yourself; 30 minutes per day is a good starting point. Replace the time you were spending watching TV with activities that don't require electricity, like reading a book or working on your garden. Invite others in your home to join you rather than watching TV.
Adjust your schedule according to off-peak hours.
Most electricity companies charge different rates for electricity depending on the time of day. During so-called "peak" hours, you pay more, and during "off-peak" hours, you pay less for the same allotment of electricity. Often, peak hours are during the day and until a certain time in the evening. Off-peak hours might be later at night or during certain hours on the weekend. You'll need to check with your utility company to see what their peak hours are—this is often listed on your energy bill.
Move all activities that require a lot of electricity, such as washing and drying clothes, running the dishwasher, and vacuuming, to off-peak hours. You'll notice your electricity bills go down.
For more advice on saving energy, check out our post "Beginner's Guide to Going Green."
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