As the Days Get Shorter, How to Use Less Electricity

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As the autumn leaves begin to fall, we all know that the dark nights and bitter winter chill we soon be upon us, sending our electricity bills sky high. Let’s consider how we can use less electricity during this difficult time of year.

Insulate Your Home
If you use electric heating, keeping your house nice and warm in the winter months can often mean large electricity bills. The simple task of insulating your home can cut these costs considerably. Insulate your walls and ceilings, and plug air leaks around doors and windows – you can use affordable caulking to do this, and can save a huge amount on home heating bills.

Do Not Overheat
It can often be very appealing in the cold winter months to turn our thermostats right up; however, this is often unnecessary. Wear several layers of clothing and move about as much as possible in order to keep warm instead. It is also financially unwise to heat rooms that are not usually used such as guest rooms. It is advisable to turn off the radiators and shut the doors to these rooms.

Home Appliances
You need to be careful about how much electricity your home appliances are using. Refrigerators, for example, account for about 20% of your home’s electricity use. Turning it down slightly can save a lot of energy. It may also be cost effective to set your clothes washer to the warm or cold setting rather than hot. If you have an electric water heater this can mean saving a great deal of money every year.

Energy Efficient Lighting
As the winter draws in, the days begin to get shorter and we often find we are both getting up and going to bed in darkness. This can mean we are using a lot of electricity on lighting – more than any other time in the year. One way to combat this is to use energy efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. They use a great deal less energy than regular bulbs and they last up to 12 times longer, meaning you save money on both counts.

Search for Cheap Electricity
It is often wise, as the winter weather draws nearer, to look around for cheap electricity providers. You may find that you are paying much too much for your utilities and can save a lot of money by using an alternative company.