Solar panels, wind, and other alternative sources of energy are becoming a popular topic of discussion among those who are either environmentally conscious or just those who want to prepare to live a lifestyle that is “off the grid”. But, these solutions may be fine for those who have a large amount of money to invest, but for those of us who are limited on funds, simply learning how to cut back on electricity use may be the most beneficial in the long run.
The simplest thing to do is to turn the lights off when you leave a room, even if you're coming right back. It takes little physical exertion to flip the lights off while exiting, but the amount that you can save on your light bill is more than you could imagine.
Your hot water heater also uses a large amount of electricity, especially if you only use hot water to wash your clothes. Cold water will often wash your clothes just as well as hot water will (unless you are bleaching white clothes) and you will end up using a lot less energy by switching the temperature to “cold”.
Unplug your TVs, VCRs, and other appliances when you aren't using them or at the very least, have them plugged into a power strip that you can turn on and off easily before going to bed for the night or leaving for several hours. Many household appliances, especially those that have digital clocks on them, are using electricity even when you aren't using them personally.
Optimize the temperatures in your refrigerator and freezer. You don't want to keep your refrigerator so cold that some things freeze, but you don't want to keep your freezer warm enough where the ice cream melts, either. Adjust the temperatures, because your refrigerator and freezers are often huge energy hogs if you leave them at the factory set temperatures.
Finally, take a look at the amount of energy that you spend heating and cooling your house. Air conditioning and central heat are huge expenditures that a lot of times you can manage to do without, especially during the spring and fall. If you leave to go to work early in the morning, switch your thermostat to keep your home at a lower temperature that you normally would in the winter and to maintain a higher temperature in the summer. Then, you're only using the electricity that you need when you're home (although, keep your pets in mind, if you have them).
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