Summer means vacations, swimming, picnics and high electricity bills! That's right, summer is the time that we dread opening the mailbox to find that bill from the electric company. Here are some tips to help lower your electric bill and create a bit more wiggle room in your summer budget.
Turn off the lights
When you leave the room, always be sure you turn out the lights. During the day time, leave blinds and curtains open to let in natural light. Purchase energy efficient light fixtures and light bulbs. Turning off the lights seems like a small thing, but it can actually make a really noticeable difference!
Use fans and control your air conditioning
Set your AC at a temperature that is comfortable, but not cold. If you wish for your rooms to be cooler, purchase some fans! You can either buy a table top fan or install special ceiling fans. Be sure to change your air conditioning filter on a regular basis and make sure you keep an eye on your AC units. Have them serviced regularly. Another tip is to have a digital programmable thermostat so you can control the temperature more accurately then with a dial thermostat. You can also customize programs with most digital programmable thermostats.
Unplug, unplug, unplug!
Think about how many devices you have plugged in throughout your household right now. How many of those devices NEED to be plugged in full time? Probably not many! Unplug cell phone chargers when you are not using them. Unplug the toaster when it's not in use! If you are going to be away for an extended period of time, you might even want to unplug your television and other large electronic devices/appliances (except for the refrigerator of course!). Doing one or two of these things every once in awhile might not make a huge difference. Putting each one of these tips to use every day though? You'll see a remarkable difference in your electric bill! Finally, acknowledge that you are going to have higher electricity bills in the summer no matter what, and put aside funds year round so you aren't caught off guard. Also be sure you are on the lowest rate plan you qualify for with your electric company. Shop around if you are able to.
What do you do to save money on electricity in the summer months?