Tips for Lowering Your Electric Bill

Many utility companies offer a free home energy audit to customers, and it's well worth taking advantage of. If there's no such program in your area, conduct your own energy audit instead. It'll clue you into areas where you could trim your energy use.

The key to saving energy is within reach! Switch to dimmer switches, so you only use as much light as you need.

Everyone always tells you to keep the fridge closed. But did you know that keeping your fridge and freezer full can also save money? Food acts as insulation and lessens the amount of time that the fridge has to run to stay cool.

Keep the air circulating in your home, so your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard.

Set up a clothesline in your backyard, and let Mother Nature dry your laundry. If this isn't an option, consider hanging clothes on a drying rack or shower rod.

• How to Keep Lined-Dried Clothes From Getting Stiff

A shocking 75 percent of the energy used by home electronics is consumed when they're turned off. These "phantom" users include televisions, DVD players, stereos, computers and many kitchen appliances—basically anything that holds a time or other settings. A simple solution? Plug all of these items into power strips; then, get in the habit of turning off the strips between uses.

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It'll pull cool air into your home, and help to remove the hot air.

Cut down on your air conditioning use by closing curtains and blinds on the sunny side of your home. For even more savings, consider installing tinted window film.

• More Ways to Cut Your Air Conditioning Costs

Increase the efficiency of your HVAC system by having it inspected and cleaned once a year. Added bonus: cleaner air in your home.

Keep your HVAC system running at peak efficiency by changing the filter every 30 days. Set a reminder on your phone, so you don't forget.

LED light bulbs use 90 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs. Switch out the most widely used bulbs in your home. Then, replace the rest as they burn out.

Plant trees to shade your home, and your air conditioning won't have to work as hard.

Most of the energy consumed by your dishwasher goes to heating water. Turn off the heat dry feature, and you'll minimize the drain.

13 percent of your home's electricity goes to heating water. You can lower this percentage, by setting your hot water heater to 130-140 degrees. For even more savings, install an insulation jacket, and insulate the first six feet of piping that comes off of your heater.

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Does your town offer cheaper electric rates during off-peak hours? If so, this is a great time to wash laundry, heat water and run the dishwasher.

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If your appliances are 10 years old or older, consider replacing them with new, Energy Star models, which use considerably less energy.

90 percent of the energy consumed by your washing machine goes to heating water. Turn the dial to cold, and skip the bill.

Your washing machine and dishwasher uses a lot of electricity. Minimize the drain by only washing full loads.

Less water flowing through your shower head means less water to heat.

Then, set it to run less when you're at work and when you're sleeping.

An extra blanket on your bed in the winter months is often all it takes to push back the thermostat another couple degrees.

• More Ways to Cut Your Heating Costs

Remove the lint from your dryer trap after each load to maximize your dryer’s efficiency. Then, scrub it down with soapy water and a brush once every couple months to remove any additional lint trapped in the screen.

• Uses for Dryer Lint

Toss Dryer Balls into the dryer with your clothes to speed drying time.

The next time you need to replace your hot water heater, consider going with a tankless hot water heater (also known as an on-demand hot water heater). They can cut your hot water energy cost by half.

Pick up a package of electrical outlet sealers, and place one behind all of the outlets and switches in your home.

Storm doors are a great way to prevent energy loss. Install one on all of your exterior doors.

When your refrigerator has dirty condenser coils it has to work harder to cool your foods. Perform maintenance on your refrigerator once every three months to optimize its efficiency.

• Freezer Maintenance Tips

Turn the stove or oven off a few minutes before your food is done, and let the built up heat finish the job for you.

Motion sensors can be installed both inside and outside the home to ensure that lights only come on when they’re needed.

Replace you regular surge protectors with Smart Strip surge protectors, which automatically turn off power to plugs that are not in use. Then, say goodbye to those phantom energy users.

Traditional hot water heaters heat water throughout the day — whether you need it or not. Install a water heater timer, and set yours to run just when you need it. How much will this save? Expect to see a 5-12 percent reduction in your hot water heater's energy costs.

LED night lights cost less than 25 cents a year to run, and are guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Harness the power of the sun by using solar lights for all of your outdoor needs. They'll absorb the sun's energy during the day, and run for free at night — a real bargain.

Condensation makes the fridge work harder and costs you more money.

Placing hot foods in your fridge will increase the interior temperature, and cause your refrigerator to work harder.

The extreme temperatures in your garage — hot in the summer and cold in the winter — will cause your refrigerator to work harder; so if you have a choice, place your second refrigerator (or freezer) in the basement, where the temperature is more constant.

Foods cook faster with lids on because the heat can't escape.

For casseroles — and other foods that require long cook times — preheating the oven usually isn't necessary. The exception: meats and other temperature-critical foods.

Microwaves use less electricity and don't release as much heat into your home.

Sediment buildup in your hot water heater can reduce the efficiency of the heating elements. Use the valve on the side of your hot water heater to drain the sediment twice yearly.

Purchase an insulating jacket for your hot water heater to prevent heat loss.

The U.S. Department of Energy has an online tool that can help you determine if you have enough insulation based on the region that you live in.

Check around your windows and doors for any gaps. Then, purchase and install weatherstripping to fill them in.

Go high tech, and paint your home (inside and out) with insulated paint. You can now purchase a ceramic additive that turns ordinary paint into insulated paint.

All statistics in this article are based on current U.S. Department of Energy findings.