Tag: Electricity Savings

Eight Ways to Reduce Electrical Costs

Eight Ways to Reduce Electrical CostsWith the cost of electricity going up in almost every jurisdiction, consumers would do well to heed the following suggestions as ways to reduce their total electricity consumption and reduce the total cost of electricity as part of their total monthly budget. Several of these suggestions will also help you save money on heating your home if you use oil, propane or natural gas. This amounts to a double savings for many consumers. Here are eight ways to reduce electrical costs for the average home owner.

  • Reduce phantom power
  • Use LED bulbs
  • Use a programmable thermostat
  • Dishwashers
  • Laundry
  • Clothes lines
  • Microwave or toaster ovens vs. electric stove
  • Window and door treatments

Eight Ways to Reduce Electrical Costs

Reduce phantom power – all electronics consume power when the are plugged into a wall outlet. This allows them to turn on quickly when the power button is pressed. Unplug your electronics when not being used and especially when leaving on a vacation etc.

Use LED bulbs – consume much less electricity than regular bulbs and even less than fluorescent bulbs.

Use a programmable thermostat – use your thermostats timer control to control the temperature in your home while you are away. Also adjust the temperature lower in the winter and higher during summer cooling seasons. “For every degree lower that you set your thermostat, you can save 3 per cent on heating costs”.

Dishwashers – if you must use a dishwasher, fill it before running it and only run the dishwasher when rates are at their lowest which is usually at night.

Laundry – the same applies to laundry. A full load is more efficient and run the washer and dryer at night or on weekends when rates are often lower.

Clothes lines – using clothes lines to dry your clothes is one of the most efficient ways to accomplish this task. No energy used at all.

Microwave or toaster ovens vs. electric stove – both devices are far more efficient to cook with compared to an oven.

Window and door treatments – seal all windows with weather stripping and use window treatments to provide added insulation or prevent the sun from heating the interior of your home in the summer.

For more information about saving money and reducing your electrical consumption, click here.

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Reduce Your Hydro Bill

Electricity rates are going up again in the province of Ontario Canada again, just like they are in every other province and state across North America. This recent rise in rates prompted us to write a post about how to reduce your hydro bill. How can you minimize the impact of these rate increases? We cannot do much about the rate increases. We can control how much electricity we consume and keep our electric bills as low as possible. After all, I would rather have the money in my pocket. Instead of lining the pockets of the electric company managers and investors. The following are a few ways you can lower your bills. Or at least control how much you pay to some degree.

Reduce Your Hydro Bill

Reduce Phantom Power – use from computers, TVs, Radios, and other electronic devices. They are turned off, but still consuming power to keep them warm and ready to be instantly turned on.

Use LED Bulbs – to reduce the amount of electricity used substantially. Compared to incandescent bulbs and also compared to fluorescent bulbs.

Use a Programmable Thermostat – to reduce your energy use when you are not at home or in the evenings when in bed.

Run Appliances in Off-Peak Hours – Dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers are three examples of appliances that should be run during nonpeak hydro rate periods.

Use Microwave – vs. using your oven, particularly in peak periods of electrical rates.

Insulate Windows and Doors – by adding weather stripping and eliminating drafts

These are just a few of the things that can be done to reduce your electrical use, especially during peak rate periods when electricity rates are at their highest levels. Using automation such as electronic thermostats is a great way to ensure that you are always using electricity at lower rates.


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