Tips for lowering your utility bills

Archive for the ‘Appliances’ Category

Refrigerator Settings
When it comes to the ideal setting for a refrigerator most people have no idea.  The best setting for most refrigerators is between 38° – 40° F.  Most stand alone freezers should be set at between 0° and 5°F.  You can purchase an inexpensive thermometer to place in your refrigerator or freezer if it did not come with one.  To get an accurate temperature the thermometer should be left in the refrigerator or freezer for at least 24 hours.

Toss Your Old Freezer
Unplug any extra freezers or refrigerators that you are not really using.  You will find that many utility companies offer you incentives for recycling your old refrigerator or freezer.  Recycling these old appliances will save you money on your utility bills and could even give you a little extra cash right up front.

Close That Door
The refrigerator door in the average American home is opened approximately 22 times each day.  Each time you open the door the refrigerator needs to work harder, and use more energy, to maintain the right temperature.  Save openings by taking out and putting away several items at a time.

Water Recycling
Think about ways that you can recycle the water from your sink or tub.  Water from both the bathtub and kitchen sink is perfect for cleaning your home and watering your plants.  This simple tip can end up saving you gallons of water each week.

Install ICAT Fixtures
You can reduce your energy costs by replacing regular recessed lighting with Insulation Contact, Air Tight (ICAT) fixtures.  They save you money by reducing the flow of air from the ceiling into your living spaces.

Use Gas
You will get more for your money using a gas stove than an electric one.  This is because gas stoves heat and cool down instantly.  Another way that gas can save you money on your utility bill is that gas is actually cheaper than electricity in many markets.

Clean Out Your AC
You can save lots of energy just by keeping your air conditioning unit clean.  It is a good idea to inspect the entire outside the unit for dirt and dust when you replace the filter each month.  A clean air conditioning unit is a more efficient air conditioning unit.

Clean Your Coils
You can also save money by keeping the condenser coils of your refrigerator clean.  You can find these coils at the back of your refrigerator.  Dusty coils mean that your refrigerator will work harder and use more energy.

Add a Ceiling Fan
You can reduce both heating and cooling costs will a well placed ceiling fan.  When placed in a stairwell they can push warm air down during the winter months and cool air up in the summertime.

Unplug Appliances When they are Not in Use
Even when they are turned off many appliances continue to use energy.  Examples of such appliances include microwaves, VCRs, and coffee makers.  Any appliance that has a timer or clock will continue to draw power even when it is off.  A convenient solution is to place these types of appliances on a power strip that can be simply switched off instead of unplugging them all the time.

Clean the Filters
Both your washer and your dryer have filters.  While most people will clean the dryer lint filter after each load, they often neglect the washer filter.  Clogged washer filters mean that your washer will need to work harder and use more energy.  You can reduce your energy costs simply by cleaning these filters on a regular basis.

Less Drying Time
Most people pick a time on the dryer timer and just let it run.  The truth is that most loads are dry long before the time is up.  Do some experimenting to figure out the exact amount of time you need to dry an average load and don’t turn the timer past that.  This way you won’t waste energy on clothes that are already dry.

Hang Your Clothes
You can save lots of money on your utility costs by placing your clothes on a line to dry.  Drying your clothes on a line outside in the summer also helps to keep your home cool as you don’t have the heat from the dryer.  An added advantage is that fresh smell that only line drying can provide.

Cook More Than One Meal at a Time
You can dramatically reduce your energy costs in the kitchen by cooking three or four days worth of dinners at one time.  Keeping the oven door closed during the entire cooking process will also help save energy.  Opening the door just lets the heat out and makes the oven work harder.

Use Small Appliances
You will consume much less energy by using a portable skillet or toaster oven than you would if you were to turn on your oven or stove.  This tip will come in handy on those mornings when you feel like a batch of hot, fresh pancakes right of the griddle.

Those people with electric ranges can turn off the burner before you are actually finished cooking.  The burner continues to radiate residual heat that will be more than enough to finish the cooking process.  You will have saved an entire hour of energy if you just turn off the burner two minutes early each day for an entire month.