In these difficult economic times, everyone is trying to find ways to save money. Learning how to lower your electric bill can make a big difference in your available income. There are several fairly basic steps to help you accomplish your goal:

1. Most electric utility companies offer a free “energy audit”. If yours does, take advantage of it! The power company will send someone to your home to inspect and evaluate the efficiency of your insulation. They will also test to see if air is entering or escaping through gaps in your windows and doors. Follow their recommendations carefully.

2. You can test the weather tightness of your windows and doors yourself by holding your hand at the opening of the closed windows and doors. If you can feel warm or cold air coming in from outside, you have a leak that is costing you money every month in extra heating or cooling costs. Thin adhesive weather-stripping is available at all home supply stores and is easy to install yourself.

3. Make a habit of turning off lights every time you leave the room. Lights are not the biggest user of electricity, but the cost adds up to dollars a month. Also, leaving the lights on creates heat, which leads to unnecessary air conditioning costs.

4. Don’t leave fans running in an unoccupied room. Fans create a sensation of coolness when they hit the perspiration on your skin, but they don’t actually cause a drop in temperature in a room. If anything, the running of the motor can actually raise the room temperature. Fans also do nothing to keep pets cool, as animals do not have sweat glands and are not cooled by breezes.

5. Use a thermometer to test the temperature of your refrigerator and freezer. Your refrigerator should be set at 40 degrees and your freezer at 0 degrees.

6. Periodically pull out your refrigerator and clothes dryer and clean the coils in back with a brush. A build-up of dust on the coils makes the machines have to work harder and longer.

7. When you are not at home, set your air-conditioner at 80 degrees or your heat at 64 degrees. On summer nights, use a fan in addition to your air-conditioner, which will allow you to set the temperature a few degrees higher than you are used to.

8. Use power strips for such items as TVs, computers, etc. Even when these are turned off, power is still running into them. Cut off the power strips when you are not using them.

9. One huge gobbler of energy is the electric hot water heater. Locate the circuit breaker for your hot water heater and turn it off. Turn it back on an hour before you are ready to use hot water for laundry, dishes, showers, etc., and turn it back off when you are done. There is no point in consuming electricity to keep the water at a high temperature 24 hours a day – use it only when needed.

Once you learn how to lower your electric bill, you will be amazed at the extra savings you’ll see at the end of the month!

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