Simple Ways to Slash Your Electricity Bill


By Karen J. Bannan


More than 44 percent of your utility bill goes to heating and cooling and 10 to 13 percent goes to lighting, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. That means getting a hold of these costs can potentially save you hundreds of dollars each year. Here are a few tips to help you cut your bill right away.

Turn it Off-Most of the Time
If you’re leaving the room, you will save money by turning off the lights-as long as you’re using incandescent bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs use as much energy when they start up as they would if they were on for 15 minutes, so if you’re using them, you may want to leave them on if you’ll only be gone a short period of time.

Go with the Fluo
That said, if you replace 25 percent of your high-use lights-the ones in the kitchen, the bathroom, the den-with compact fluorescent bulbs, you can cut your lighting bill by 50 percent. And since they last 10 times longer than regular bulbs, you’ll be replacing them less. Use the U.S. government’s Energy Star Web site to find compact fluorescent bulb dealers near you. www.energystar.gov/stores/storelocator.asp

Wrap it Up
If your heating system uses ducts and they aren’t insulated and sealed, you may be spending several hundreds of dollars more a year on fuel costs. Professionals can assess whether warm air is leaking into unheated areas and fix any problems. To get a list of insulation contractors near you, check your local phone book or log on to the Insulation Contractors Association of America Web site at www.insulate.org

Let the Sun Shine In
If your windows face the sun at any point during the day, open the shades. The sun will warm your room and help to reduce heating costs. Once the sun goes down, make sure you draw the blinds to keep heat inside.

Be Your Own Detective
There are plenty of small, inexpensive things you can do to lower heating and electricity costs. To discover where you may be wasting energy, take the interactive Home Energy Checkup at the Alliance to Save Energy’s Web site, www.ase.org/checkup/home. Or you can call the Alliance for its free booklet, Power$mart: Easy Tips to Save Money and the Planet at 888-878-3256.