I need some tips

tanniew78
tanniew78 Posts: 602 Member
edited September 24 in Chit-Chat
To bring my electricity bill down. Its more than half my income and I just cant keep this up. I need tips to help bring it under control. Im doing the basics. Making sure things are shut off. Making the landlord winterize this place better or Im not renewing my lease. I want to know if theres anything I might not have thought of. Thanks for any ideas.

Replies

  • Andrea7701
    Andrea7701 Posts: 40 Member
    I have heard that even though things may be shut off you should unplug them.
  • prettybrownround
    prettybrownround Posts: 362 Member
    Electricity is still being used when ur appliances are "shut off" but still plugged up. Try getting a timer for ur hall/bedroom lights that automatically comes on/off when u enter/leave a room.
  • sillygoose1977
    sillygoose1977 Posts: 2,151 Member
    Get a programable thermostat and set it lower at night and when you aren't home. I live in Colorado and I keep my thermostat at 63 when we are up and around the house. It is set for 60 at night and when we are gone during the day. It sounds cold but it really isn't. It also forces us to cuddle under blakies with each other during tv time! It can make a huge difference. Switch out all your light bulbs for flourescent. The light is weird for a while but you'll get used to it and they last forever.
  • bethvandenberg
    bethvandenberg Posts: 1,496 Member
    anything with a heating element uses a lot of electricity. Use a toaster oven instead of the oven when possible, switch to all fluorescent bulbs, turn off and unplug computer and phone chargers will use electricity even when not in use. Buy some rolled plastic and tape over your windows to help keep drafts out. Roll up towels and use by doors to keep air from coming in at the bottom of doorways.
  • tam8374
    tam8374 Posts: 270 Member
    I have done some research on this topic in the past, we used to have a REALLY BIG OLD FARMHOUSE. First check your lightbulbs - you think they don't add up, but they do. We bought the new ones, I think iridescent or something. Also all of our small appliances in the kitchen, offices, bedrooms, etc were on those Surge protector strips and we would unplug the surge protector every night vs. unplugging all of the appliances, computers, printers and things. If something is plugged in and even though it's not on, it's still drawing an electric charge. (Did you know a cell phone charger plugged into the wall but not into the phone is eating up $9/year just being plugged into the wall - Reader's digest).

    We noticed a HUGE DIfference. Also, you may need to have the meter checked, could be it's not working right. The power company came and put a test meter up with the actual meter and our meter was reading much higher. So that also helped.

    Well that is my 2 cents and some of that is from experience.
  • skinnyme125
    skinnyme125 Posts: 396 Member
    OK OK,, here is a list that works. I put gray tape around my windows, or you can use removable calk. (this helps to seal off draftyness) Then if you call your electric company they may have little kits for you to use, if not you can go to the local hardware store, they have little foam like pieces that are the shape of an electrical outlet that you put in the wall behind the switches and plugins but only on the outside walls of your place. The inside walls wont do any good. Then like everyone else said unplug unless you are using it. Always turn off lights unless you need them. I know this is cheesy but I will hang blankets from doorways when my house gets way too drafy to block the flow of the air. I Live in an old trailer house and we are still making improvements as we can. Also that shrink type plastic stuff they make for windows is great. You cut it ti fit about an inch bigger than your window all the way around and you seal it on then take a blow drier and heat the plastic. it will shrink some to make it tight. this will also help with drafts and with insulation. If you have a window aircondition unit either remove it or cover it with a tarp strapped on during the times it is not in use. In the summer I put aluminum foil on my windows with the shinny side facing out to reflect the sun and heat out so that I is so much easier to cool the house.

    I know I sound like a redneck hillbilly, I really am not. I am a college student and so is my husband. When money is tight you have to do what you can to make things managable till you can afford to do something else. I hope some of this gives you some help. If not like I said call the electric company and they will help give you some ideas. ::))
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