Cold weather and shorter days are back again. That means more hours with the lights on in your home or business, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend more on electricity. Small behavior changes can generate tens, even hundreds of dollars in savings over the course of year. Here are six ways to reduce your electricity and overall energy bill this winter without spending a dime.
Turn down the LCD backlight on your TV
If you have an LCD TV consider turning down the backlight to lower power consumption. When you purchase a TV most are set to the retail setting, which is the brightest setting. This small change can cut the amount of power your TV uses up to 25 percent, that’s a savings of about $65 per year for the average owner of a 32 inch LCD TV.
Unplug your electronic devices when they are not in use
Putting your computers, television, and cell phones chargers and other electronics on a couple of power strips makes turning off these devices easy. These devices pull stand by electricity even when they are turned off. You can save $8 per month or $100 in a year by turning off these devices.
Unplug your game console
Whether you have a Wii, PlayStation or something in between, these game systems use as much energy in the idle mode as they do in the active or game mode. A game system that is always plugged in pulls ten times as much energy over the course of a year as the same game console that is unplugged when not in use. The average American uses about
330 kWh per year to run their game console or about $36.
Don’t fill all the sockets in multiple light bulb fixtures
Consider filling a four or three socket light fixture with two larger bulbs for the same amount of light with less energy use. For example, using one 100 watt bulb produces 50 percent more light than four 25 watt bulbs for the same energy costs.
Don’t make your refrigerator work harder
Putting hot or warm liquids in the refrigerator makes the compressor work harder to keep the temperature cool. Open liquids also make the compressor work harder to evaporate liquids, plus evaporating liquids can give your foods a funky taste. The average refrigerator comprises about 20 percent of your electricity bill each month.
Place lamps near reflective surfaces
Light colors and mirrors reflect the light magnifying the amount of light and a corner location gives the light more surface area to bounce off. Strategic placement of your lamps can make the room appear brighter without adding additional wattage.
Shop Around for Lower Rates
Simply switching electricity companies can have a big impact on your bill. Changing companies is super easy and fast with Electric Choice and all you need is your zip code. Find lower rates on your electricity and save money on your bill without doing a thing.
Save a few extra dollars for more Christmas presents this year by making these small changes that generate significant energy savings.
