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Before we get into some detailed
suggestions, there are some initial, practical suggestions regarding how to keep
that electric bill relatively tame. In terms of major appliances, use
cost-saving settings whenever possible. If you use an electric dryer, make sure
you dry full rather than partial loads. Even though you may have a number of gas
appliances, they still use a certain amount of electricity so make sure to use
them in such a way that electrical consumption is minimized.
Ceiling fans can also be an effective means of reducing energy consumption.
Although the ceiling fan doesn’t actually make the temperature warmer or cooler,
the motion of the air makes it feel that way which, in turn, allows you to set
the thermostat at a more cost-effective level.
In terms of some lighting conservation basics, get into the habit of always
turning off any lights when they’re not needed. Leaving the porch light on all
night is a tradition that many people observe. The original thinking was around
issues of security. In some areas of this and other countries, security is still
an issue and leaving the outside light on all night is probably still a good
idea (although there are no statistics that I’m aware of that this deters
burglary or break-ins). If you live in a relatively secure and safe area, don’t
turn the outside porch light(s) on unless you’re expecting guests or a family
member typically comes home after dark.
If your lamps have several brightness settings, don’t always select the
brightest setting. See if you can get buy on one of the lower settings without
causing eyestrain or difficulty in reading. Incandescent bulbs and fixtures are
among the worst offenders when it comes to wasting energy. Their basic design
results in the majority of energy creating heat rather than light to say nothing
of the mounting evidence that points to the incandescent light as a significant
source of air pollution. The primary appeal of the incandescent bulb is that
they are relatively inexpensive, can be found in a variety of stores (including
supermarkets) and are available in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.
Selecting energy saving light bulbs will result in greater lighting efficiency
since the electric current passes through the gas in the bulb, lighting it
without causing wasteful heat. An important feature when it comes to buying an
energy saving bulb, is that a lower wattage bulb will give you the equivalent
illumination that a higher wattage incandescent bulb does. For example, you can
replace a 60W incandescent bulb with a 13W to 18W energy saving bulb. Another
important consideration is that the energy saving bulb can last up to twelve
times longer than its traditional counterpart, saving you up to twenty dollars a
year per fixture.
One of the best ways to conserve electrical energy is to replace incandescent
fixtures and bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Now available in hundreds of
colors, the fluorescent bulb uses about a third of the energy used by an
incandescent bulb and generally lasts 15 to 20 times longer. Although energy
savings bulbs cost more per unit than an incandescent bulb, the difference in
cost will be made up by the bulb’s efficiency and length of life.
Some additional energy-saving ideas include using dimmer switches to set the
lighting level at just the right level, layering light and using outdoor motion
detectors that illuminate only when motion is detected.
This article presents just a few of the ways you can conserve on energy and make
your electric bills less of a shock (excuse the pun).
About the
Author: LightnBreezy.com is a well-known source for Westinghouse indoor
lighting fixtures and fans. LightnBreezy.com features hundreds of products,
at deep discounts, to choose from. To order visit us at
LightnBreezy.com
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