• 5 Ways on How to Lower Energy Bills

• by: Avocados  |  last updated: August 19, 2008

• Category: Green Savings |  Tags: Energy savers, Go Green, Save Planet Earth, Power saving tips, Energy saving tips, The Green Planet

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  Saving Energy has become the need of the hour.If you are tired of paying high electric bills, or simply want to improve the environment by using less energy, then you will benefit from this article's easy steps. Changing a few habits can save energy and cut your electric bill.
  
  The typical family spends $1,300 on energy bills during the course of a normal winter – but with energy prices still near their all-time high, you can expect your bill to be significantly more than that. What can you do? Let's start with plugging the air leaks.

• 1. Kill A Watt Electricity Monitor Displays Energy Usage at the Outlet

• The only way to be sure of the power draw of appliances and electronic devices and peripherals is to test them at the outlet. Once someone knows how much energy is being used when devices are on, or idle, it will be revealed how much energy and money can be saved on an electric bill by replacing, unplugging or using a smart power strip to cut off any power to that appliance. One could learn that a computer is actually drawing 30-70 watts when idle or on standby per hour. Then the energy abusing products can be changed or booted from the home, resulting in less wasted energy and a lower utility bill.

• 2. Energy Efficient Compact Fluorescent & Full Spectrum Light Bulbs that use less energy

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  For every one standard incandescent light bulb replaced with an energy star qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would save about $30 or more in electricity costs over each bulb's lifetime (source: energystar.gov). And, they use 75% less energy than regular bulbs, reducing energy consumption and lowering your bills. For only 13 Watts of energy usage, a bulb can product the light equivalent of a 60 Watt incandescent bulb. And they have a long life span of up to 10,000 hours, which saves money on replacement bulbs and save the earth from excessive replacement bulbs in the landfills.

• 3. Energy Saving Power Strips Ensure all appliances and electronics are really turned off

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  Turning off devices seems easy enough to do, but it takes extra time and remembering to actually flip a switch or push a button. Each time someone shuts off their TV, but forgets to turn off the DVD player or VCR and speakers, there is energy and money being wasted. There is new "smart strip" technology which can help alleviate using surplus electricity. For example, when a TV or computer is plugged into the "Control" outlet and when this appliance is turned off, the peripheral appliances, like a monitor or DVD player, automatically turn off as well. Smart Strips also allow for electronics that need to remain "always on" - like a cordless phone or fax machine. 7 or 10 outlet settings are available.

• 4. Evaporative Coolers or Swamp Coolers to keep the indoors cool using less energy

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  By making a simple choice about how to cool down indoor spaces this summer, people can save up to 80% on the energy bill compared to traditional air conditioner units. For rooms between 150 sq. ft. - 750 sq. ft., an evaporative cooler, or swamp cooler, can handle the job of cooling while using one third the energy of a standard ac unit. Best suited for dry, hot climates, evaporative coolers do not use refrigerants, such as chlorofluorcarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which are known for damaging the ozone layer. Other benefits are a filter eliminates dust and pollen, and enjoy low maintenance and electricity costs.

• 5. Attic Insulation Covers Eliminate energy loss by locating and reducing drafts

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  The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5% to 30% per year, and the home is generally much more comfortable afterward. Experts recommend checking the attic hatch for air leaks, which is a cause of heat loss in a home. If the attic hatch is not insulated, a major source of energy loss can be eliminated by installing an attic insulation cover or attic tent. Once installed, the attic insulation kit produces a 3-5 degree difference in overall temperature. It reduces the loss of energy during the warm summer months, or colder winter months. Attic covers consist of a frame and lid. The frame serves as a barrier or dam to keep insulation from entering into the living area.

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