How to Save Money on Your Electricity Costs

The cost of electricity is on the rise. When oil prices increase, it not only effects prices at the gas pump, but it also costs the Utility companies more money to generate electricity. Often times, these increased costs are passed on to the customers, causing you , the consumer to see increased electricity prices.

Here are 10 Tips for Decreasing Your Electricity Costs.

1. Be sure to purchase high-efficiency lighting such as compact florescent bulbs.

2. Purchase high efficiency appliances, such as refrigerators, air conditioners and washer and dryers that have energy efficiency ratings. One of the most popular is EnergyStar.

3. Install occupancy sensors that turn lights off when the room is unoccupied.

4. Do you hate coming home to a dark house so you leave a light burning when you're not home? Install a lighting timer to turn lights on right before you arrive home.

5. Reduce the hours your computer equipment is left running. Turn computers, monitors, printers, scanners and copiers off when they are not in use.

6. Only use your air conditions when the outdoor temperature is 75 degrees or above.

7. If the outdoor air is cooler then the temperature inside your home, open the windows and use fans to pre cool your room before turning on your air conditioners.

8. Keep shades and blinds closed during the day as much as possible to keep direct sunlight, and the heat it brings with it, out of your home so you can use less energy to keep it cool.

9. Use natural sunlight to light your home during the day time. Light weight curtains will let the sunlight in and give your privacy.

10. Heat rises. Use ceiling fans in the winter to push heat down and in the summer months use ceiling fans to draw hot air up. It costs less money to run ceiling fans then air conditioners.