Has your electric bill been shocking you lately? You’re not alone. But the good news is that bringing it back to reality may not call for big-ticket renovations like buying more energy-efficient windows or appliances (sorry, Home Depot!). You can actually save lots by making smart little changes that stop energy from being wasted. Here are a few bright ideas.
Rearrange the fridge. Buying frozen foods in bulk not only saves money, but it also saves energy. It takes less energy to keep stuff frozen than to keep air below 32 degrees, so keep that freezer full. In the case of the refrigerator, though, it’s more energy efficient if there’s room for air to circulate. So only buy what you typically use between shopping trips.
Microwave more. Compared with your oven, it uses only 20% as much energy.
Match pot to burner. Stoves have different-sized burners for a reason: You can cook more efficiently by matching the size of the pot and pan to the heat source. Use the smallest burner and the smallest pot whenever possible.
Use power strips. TVs, computers, stereos, and even dishwashers all continue to draw energy even when they’re not on. Plug adjacent devices into power strips so you can cut the juice to all of them with the flip of a switch. (Just be careful not to exceed the allowable number of devices. And never plug one power strip into another.)
Change your filter. If your heating system has an air filter, change it at least every 3 months. The dirtier the filter, the harder your system must work to heat (or cool) the house.
Sync your ceiling fan. Since hot air rises, a ceiling fan is only doing its job if it’s pushing that air back down into the room. This means the blades should be turning clockwise in winter. (Reverse the motion in summer for a cooling effect.) A switch on the body on the base of the fan usually works the magic to reverse the blades.
Unadapt. Some of the biggest home energy-wasters are adapters for rechargeable phones, cameras, music players, power tools, etc. When plugged in, they draw power even if they’re not recharging anything.
Drop a degree (or three). For every one degree lower you set your thermostat, you’ll save up to 5% in heating costs.
Let the sun in. Open the drapes or blinds on the sunny side of the house to take advantage of solar heating. It’s one of the few energy sources that’s still free.
Switch to CFLs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. They cost a bit more, but they’ll pay for themselves in roughly 6 months and save you an additional $30 per bulb.
Leave ’em on. It actually wastes energy if you turn CFLs off and on. As a general rule, leave them on if you’ll be back in the room within 15 minutes. Otherwise, flip the switch to fight another energy vampire. (Hey, the only vampire we want in our house is Edward Cullen!)
Decadent (yet smart!) desserts
