Do you want to lose some kilowatt-hours (kWh) this year? The following simple, low-cost steps for a trimmer figure on your electric bill could save you an estimated $975* a year.
- Switch to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs)
Changing three 100-watt incandescent bulbs to equivalent 26-watt CFLs saves about 243 kWh per year. - Use fans instead of air conditioners
Using two fans rather than an 8,000-Btu room air conditioner saves over 1,150 kWh annually. - Shorten showers
Cutting your shower by two minutes saves up to 1,533 kWh per year. - Fix leaky faucets
A faucet leaking one hot-water drop per second wastes about 400 kWh per year. - Wash clothes in cold water
Switching from hot water to cold water on a standard, top-loading washing machine for two loads a week saves about 225 kWh annually. - Hang a couple of loads of clothes on the line
Reducing clothes dryer use by two loads per week saves roughly 260 kWh per year. - Eliminate energy sneakers
Unplug or use a power strip to stop electricity use by appliances that use standby power when turned off, such as cell phone chargers, televisions, computers, monitors, and printers. Using a power strip to turn off your computer alone saves roughly 50 kWh per year. - Air-dry dishes
Letting dishes air-dry instead of using the heated drying cycle on the average dishwasher saves about 110 kWh per year. - Install motion detectors indoors and out
Cutting use of a 150-watt, outdoor floodlight from six hours to one hour per night saves up to 270 kWh per year.
* Figures are based on industry averages and 23 cents per kWh.
