Here are 5 tips I use at home to save money on my electricity bill.
1. Use Heavy Drapes
2. Get Weather Stripping
3. Use Fans
4. Set the thermostat at 70 degrees
5. Close vents in unused rooms
These are very simple ways to save money that really add up in the long run.
Use Heavy Drapes
I got these fabulous black denim drapes from WalMart that I use for all my windows. The black goes with everything so I do not really need to worry about matching my decor.
These heavy drapes block out the heat in the summer time and so I do not have to use the air conditioning as much as if I did not have them.
During the winter the heavy drapes keep my warm air inside so that I do not have to use as much electricity to keep my apartment warm.
Get Weather Stripping
I bought some cheap caulking strips from WalMart and used those around the windows at home. I do not remember the exact price now but I know it was under $5. The strips go in that little space in the windows where they close and make a tight seal when the window is closed.
This helps keep my cool air (summer) or hot air (winter) inside the apartment where it belongs. That way I save money by not heating or cooling the air outside.
I also put the strips around the bottom and inner sides of the front door frame. We all know how apartment front doors can get wind gusts through little spaces between the frame and the actual door. I save money here like with the window set up because my apartment can now stay warm (or cool) with less energy and money spent.
Use Fans
During the summer I use both a ceiling fan and a remote controlled standing fan.
I use the ceiling fan when I am in the living room because that is the only room in my apartment that has a ceiling fan.
When I am in the bedroom I use the remote controlled standing fan because this allows me more control. If I am in bed then I can set the fan to go off after a certain amount of time when I fall asleep.
If I go to sleep and I do not need the fan but then I wake up feeling too hot I can easily reach for the remote and cool off the room.
Set the thermostat to 70 degrees
I really hate being cold so I need to have my heater turned to about 70 degrees in the winter time. During summer time I can tolerate it being around 70 as well since I actually prefer being hot.
When my thermostat is set at 70 degrees this is usually a very comfortable temperature that I can perform all of my normal activities without needing to use the air conditioning or the heat.
If it feels too cool in the winter then I just wear sweats in the house and if it feels too hot in the summer then I wear shorts.
I then am able to save on my electricity bill by not having to turn on any of the air systems.
Close vents in unused rooms
You would be amazed at how much heat (or air conditioning) is lost in the rooms we do not use. I have the vents closed off in the spare room because I am not in there very much at all. There are no vents in the bathrooms so I do not have to worry about those either.
What I do worry about is the air going into the bathrooms through the door so I keep the door to the spare bathroom closed. That way I am not paying to heat or cool a room that is hardly ever used.
The vents stay open in the rooms that I use constantly which are the bedroom and the living room. I keep the vent in the kitchen closed because I am not in there for any extended period of time.
Over time these little actions all add up to save me money on my electricity bills and I hope they work for you too.
Very nice and inteligent post, is always good to know, how we can save money…
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@ George:
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I think ceiling fans are great. They can help you save money on electricity bills in the summer rather than run AC and they can also be used to help heat your home in the winter!
I’ve always heard that ceiling fans use a lot more electricity than a floor fan though
A lot of good ideas on this and the other linked sites. The only thing I don’t like is that they seem almost to be commercials for WalMart…a socially irresponsible profit-machine that some people don’t want to support.
Socially irresponsible profit-machine? Are you kidding me?
1. How can you call a company a profit-machine when they have figured out how to reduce the price of products drastically over what is provided at other stores? To me seems like all other stores with higher prices should be considered “profit-machines”.
2. Shopping at Wal-Mart because of the reduced prices is like getting a raise in your salary. Seems to me like that is pretty socially responsible, giving everyone a pay raise.
3. Wal-Mart is one of the largest employers in the US. They also provide health benefits to their employees and families at discounted rates. How is it that providing people with health benefits at affordable prices, as well as a decent paying job socially irresponsible?
Just because something is big and is making lots of money does not mean it is bad. This is the same crap that is spewed out of the college brainwashed liberal kids everywhere. Next you will start to complain about the pharmaceutical companies because they are making too much money as well. Yet you forget to note that the US pharmaceutical companies are responsible for 90% of the new drugs that are placed on the market and constantly improving peoples lives.
Stop drinking the Kool-Aid and look at how things really work. Without Wal-Mart there would be a higher rate of unemployment and lower standards of living for a large portion of America.
@ Strapped
I am glad that you mentioned ‘some’ people in your comment.
Yes I love WalMart and that is my main shopping place. I get all my food there and most of my other items as well.
I am not an ad for WalMart as I don’t get paid by them but I do my shopping there and make no excuses about it.
In my opinion fittings in buildings is the most important factor for reducing electricity consumption
Thanks for sharing some smart ideas on saving on electricity bills. If we look around we can get innovative but its just that we habituate ourselves to costly convenient habits. I found the strip idea very interesting but I’m thinking whether taking it off and putting it again will get just too often.
Brilliant tips to say the least. There are certain tips that should be kept in mind if you want to save money. Installing Programmable Thermostats, checking your Dryer’s Lint Filter, installing Dimmer Switches, unplugging unused appliances, paying attention to the pool etc. makes the saving lot more easier for you. Thoroughly enjoyed reading your content and got to acquire some brilliant tips from you. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for this tip. I’m really having problems on saving electricity. This will be a big help.