This new tips edition is all about saving money on your electricity bill. I think we could all use a little help in THAT department!

Let’s start with installing the new type of fluorescent bulbs in lights you leave on for long periods. They provide four times as much light and last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs. I think we’ve probably all already heard of these bulbs, they’re a little more expensive when you buy them than the regular light bulbs, but that’s just something you’ll notice at checkout. Your local dollar store may even have them, that’s where I found the ones I’m using outside.

Lower the temperature on your hot water heater to between 110 and 120 degrees. It’s not necessary to have it any hotter and wastes energy. No one wants to be scalded when they shower anyways, right?

Find out if your utility company offers free energy audits, where they inspect your home for energy effectiveness and recommend inexpensive ways to cut energy costs, such as insulating hot water heaters, weather-stripping, etc. Just insulating your hot water heater could save you $25 a year. Didn’t expect that did ya?

Cut back on the use of your clothes dryer. Not only is it a big energy drain, it can also suck heated air out of your house very quickly in winter. Hang clothes on a clothes rack to dry and use the dryer for towels and other heavy items.

Use your microwave, or even a convection/toaster oven instead of your oven whenever possible and save up to 50% in energy costs for cooking. Think about it, you have to heat the whole oven to cook a 10 x 13 casserole dish full of pasta. Do you really need all that heat releasing itself into your house? Sure it smells great, but after you’ve eaten, who cares how it smells anymore?

I’m sure you’ll find these tips helpful in your day to day, I have found them useful and am glad that I’ve implemented most of these tips myself. See you back here tomorrow!