Stretching your dollar... saving on Utilities
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After years of having a cellphone and always killing my apps (turning them off) so it doesn't waste my battery I realized that I definitely need to do the same thing in my home. I need to unplug my electronics and appliances to save money for my household. Everyone who knows me knows I am about saving money... here are a few things that I have done to help out with saving and conserving on utilities over the years.
- turn off the facet while brushing your teeth
- lower the temperature on your hot water tank
- keep the lights off during the day
- line dry clothes outside
- lower your thermostat at night
- open windows to cool down the house in cool summer nights
- don't use the dishwashers drying cycle
- take shorter showers
- insulate your water pipes
- use night lights in the bathroom
- use night lights that only come on when it is dark
- turn off electrical items at the plug at night or when not in use (a power bar makes this easy)
- lower your thermostat in the winter months and put on a sweater.
- change your light bulbs to CFL ones
- insulate your water heater
- set your washer to cold
- use timers on lights
- run your dishwasher only when full
This is just a few ideas to save on your utilities. Please if you have other ideas please share them with me and everyone who reads this post.
Some great tips! There are a few on that list that we haven't done here yet!!!
ReplyDeletewe do many of those things....turning off water more so we don't run out for in the summer but it just seems to be automatic and gets done year round. Another thing we invested in is a special power bar that after so much inactivity it shuts all things (except the items plugged in certain outlets) off completely (so I don't have to remember to unplug). We have the TV,boxee, etc plugged into that. Figuring we pretty much use them daily and they would be the first to forget to unplug or find 'annoying' to unplug. Based at looking at our usage we believe it's helped.
ReplyDeleteGood ideas! The power bar is awesome! WE also make sure we unplug everything unnecessary when we go on vacation!
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! I do many of them. However, I don't do the clothes line because we don't have one in our backyard.
ReplyDeleteFantastic tips, thanks so much for sharing! We already have every window open in the house today, I do hear a few a/c's on, it's still winter, how crazy!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! Great tips!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing; we actually do a lot of these already. Saving energy is something we should all do. :)
ReplyDeleteI will never take shorter showers, lol, Never!!! I can sacrifice in other places like opening windows, haha.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips!!!
Chris
I love these! I do almost all of these and have noticed a difference. By doing this, you are also being green! WICKED.
ReplyDeleteYup great and fairly easy tips. That's the thing it has to be easy enough for the majority to do or it won't turn into a habit.
ReplyDelete*sigh* we use like 80% of those tips..still scrping by!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE drying my clothes outside, something I look forward to all winter long!
ReplyDeleteAwesome tips, thanks so much for sharing. I know I've used a couple of them before and there are a couple I will be using, thanks!
ReplyDeleteNice tips. I will try to use some of them :D
ReplyDeleteGreat Tips. I already do many of these but could do a few more. Utilities are expensive so anywhere you can save on them is a bonus! (Judy Cowan)
ReplyDeleteI use dryer racks(about 3 of them) during the rainy days and winter months to dry my clothes inside,so I don't have to use the dryer year round.
ReplyDeleteI do most of those things and have been planning to do the others "someday." Thanks for the reminder to make the changes I've been planning.
ReplyDeleteI am encouraged, we are already doing most of your list.
ReplyDeletethat is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI try to do everything I can to save on utilities. I unplug everything when we go to bed. t.v microwave, water cooler anything that we do not need on that uses phantom power when we are sleeping. It all adds up!
ReplyDeleteThe insulate your water heater and pipes is a great saver. We use all LED bulbs now, and turning them off makes very little difference in cost anymore.
ReplyDeleteAlso if you use Electric heat you might as well save the extra dollars spent on energy saving bulbs and buy regular because the difference balances out in you heating bill.
Those are great tips for lowering the bills, I am glad to say we do allot of them.
ReplyDeleteAll are important tips! Thanks!
ReplyDelete