Using these 20 money saving tips, you will be able to save on electric by up to 15% without changing your life style, all you need to do is think green. With just these few tips you will have a bit more cash left over at the end of each month to spend the way you want to not the way you have to.
Cooking
1. Always go for an oven with a self cleaning option, such ovens a higher grade of insulation, so as you cook you save on energy over an oven without this option.
2. Once you have something cooking in the oven, never open the door to check on progress, this will quickly reduce the temperature of the oven. Use the oven light and the glass panel, cook and save again
3. If you are cooking for one or two of you consider having a back up toaster oven, it will be faster more economic than a large conventional oven.
4. The most economic way to cook things like vegetables and reheat meals is to use a microwave oven, keep things at the edge of the rotating plate for max. efficiency and quicker cooking times
Refrigeration
5. Overcrowded fridges never work efficiently, make sure that you stack your shelves so that the air can flow around the food. This will allow you to up the temperature slightly and still preserve your food just as well.
6. Never put hot food into a fridge, this will raise the internal temperature and you energy cost rise cooling it down again. Leave food to cool before you put it in the fridge.
7. Make sure the seals on your fridge on freezer are regularly cleaned, if they get clogged with articles of food then they will not close properly and allow cold air out. It should go without saying that flattened or spilt seals need to be replaced.
8. Make sure that your fridge or freezer are sensibly placed well away from appliances that radiate heat, and heating vents or radiators
9. When buying a freezer keep in mind the needs of your family, do not be tempted to buy one that is bigger than you need, as the unused capacity costs you money to freeze down.
10. The other consideration when buying a freezer - upright or chest? Upright models look better and will blend in with your kitchen layout, just bear in mind that they leak your expensive cold air through the bottom of the door. So if you have space put a chest freezer out the back, not as cool looking, but a heck of a lot more energy efficient.
Washing the dishes
11. Modern dish washers are much more energy efficient a quiet than models of even a decade ago, so the purchase of that new dish washer you really wanted will probably pay for itself with savings you make on your electric bill.
12. Never run you dishwasher unless it is full, just wipe the leftovers from the dishes because if you rinse them off before you put them in, a) you might as well wash them and not put them in the dishwasher, b) you will waste your expensive hot water.
Laundry
13. When choosing a washing machine, choose a front loading model- they make cost a little more but they will save you up to 50% on your electric and up to 40% on water usage. When use in combination with the new cold water laundry detergents and set on 'cold wash' the cost per load drops like a rock.
14. Clean the filter on your dryer after every load and clean the outside filter (on the wall where to hot air comes out) at least once a month the improved air flow will reduce your drying times, your electric bill and will also cut down on the fire risk of having an outlet packed with combustible dry lint.
Lighting and heating
15. Modern energy efficient, they cost a little more than ordinary bulbs but they give more light and last much longer than conventional bulbs. If used throughout the house you electric bill will be reduced by as much as 7%.
16. Do not keep turning your lighting on and off this will reduce the life of the bulb by more than half, but do not leave them on when you go out of the room for any length of time.
17. Central heating and air conditioning carefully monitor the thermostat, excess heating or cooling will cost you a lot on electric bill. Gas fires with pilot lights, make sure that you turn it off in the summers months or if you are away from the house for more than a few days in the winter.
General maintenance
18. Insulation - Check all the joints in the house especially between the wall and door frames and windows this will allow leaks into the house, it is a simple matter of caulking the gaps and increasing your energy efficiency. Maintain the loft insulation, worn out loft insulation can add 15% to your heating and cooling costs, check for any energy efficiency tax rebates and or offers from your electricity company that may cover some of the cost.
19. A quality adhesive-backed weather seal should be placed around all external doors and opening windows so that they close tightly and prevent expensive drafts. The cushioned seals come on a rolls with an adhesive backing so are very simple to install and well worth the effort for the savings you will get on your electric bill
20. If you live in an area that is prone to extremes of temperature then enclose external doors with a small porch, this two door system will maintain a barrier space between the temperatures inside and out and save you money on your electric bill.
Once your house is energy efficient then why not consider creating your own green alternative energy system and increase your savings even more.