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Save electricity: Cut costs by lowering your electric bill with these green energy tips
Ways to save electricity
 Keep the blinds or curtains closed Keeping the window covered can keep the sun out on hot days and the wind out on cold days. (Personally, I like to see the sun shining in my windows, so unless it is hot enough to run the air conditioning, I usually do not cover my windows during the daytime.)
Place window air conditioners on the shadiest side of the house They won't have to work as hard and will use less power.
Keep weeds and shrubs trimmed Keep them away from outside heating/cooling units for best airflow.
Plant shade trees Trees will shade your home, keeping it more comfortable and easier to cool in the summer; they also block wind and keep it warmer in the winter.
Use compact fluorescent bulbs They cost a little more than regular bulbs, but they last up to 10 times longer and use a lot less electricity.
Adjust the temperature before leaving the house or going to bed Or you can use a thermostat that can be programmed to automatically adjust to use less power when you are away or sleeping.
Use timers to turn lights on and off when you're not around This is better than leaving lights on constantly and also makes your home more 'burgler proof'.
Cook
crock pot meals
A crock pot only uses 100 watts of electricity and can save you a lot of money. It is also an easy way to save time and still have delicious meals.
Make sure air conditioners and furnaces are the right size If they are too small, they have to work too hard. Too large and they lose their efficiency, therefore using even more electricity.
Install energy saving windows If you have old windows, you will be amazed at how much you can save with more efficient ones - and your house will also be much cozier!
Turn lights off When you leave a room, turn the lights off unless you will be returning in less than five minutes.
Turn machines off when you are not using them TVs, computers, radios, stereos, video games, and DVD players - these things all use electricity. If no one is using them, they can be turned off.
Fill your dishwasher Try to run the dishwasher only when it is full. It uses the same amount of electricity when it is half empty!
Avoid covering heating and air conditioning vents This will make your system have to work harder to acheive the same result - resulting in the use of more power. Move furniture and rugs away from the vents.
Turn your water heater down Your water heater keeps the water at a constant temperature - whatever temperature you have it set to. If it is set very high, it takes more electricity to heat the water. If you are going to be away for more than two days, turn your water heater off.
Change your furnace filters regularly This helps your heating and cooling system to work more efficiently. It also keeps the air in your home cleaner.
Close doors If there are rooms in your home that you don't use every day, save electricity by closing the heating/air conditioning vents in these rooms and keep the doors closed.
Vacuum the coils of your refrigerator Doing this every few months keeps the condenser working better and allows you to save electricity
Use low wattage bulbs In areas of your home where you don't need a lot of light, use lower wattage light bulbs to save electricity.
Keep the damper closed If you have a fireplace, make sure you have a tight-fitting damper and keep it closed when the fireplace is not in use.
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