I was reading about how to save energy and cut down on the electric bill and found out by leaving all your appliances plugged in when your not using them still consume energy. Of course we always use the fridge and freezer so those are always plugged in, but I went around and unplugged everything else, like the microwave, radios, TVs, and everything else. Every little bit helps during the crisis we are now facing.

Water heaters hold about 40 gallons of water, ours is a 30 gallon, I’d love to have one of those tankless ones, but too expensive right now so it’s suggested to turn down the temperature of water heaters instead of  maintaining it at a constant temperature. 30 or 40 gallons of water that is sitting in your tank for a  long time consumes a lot of energy. If the water heater is not expected to be used for a while they suggest a lower temperature.

Of course these are things I’m sure everyone already knows, but it doesn’t hurt to give a reminder. Thank goodness we had new windows put in awhile back because the openings and leaks in doors and windows create drafts. The stronger the draft is, the longer it will take for homes to be heated or cooled and the heater or air conditioner does extra work to regulate the right temperature of the house.

Older homes are usually not as well sealed as the newer homes because builders are more thorough now. Even if the outer walls are insulated, air leaks often occur around wall outlets, switches and vents that could result in water condensation around these areas. Bill bought a can of foam insulation to fix some of our problem areas.

Also appliances need to be cleaned regularly because dirt and dust interferes with the efficiency of appliances. You should also place about four inches of distance between the wall and appliances that generate heat so your walls don’t retain the heat. Also make sure you clean your air filters at least once a month.

Also a few other tips that we know and don’t always follow are, turn off the water while brushing your teeth, always turn the lights off before leaving the room, turn the computer off after use, do not hold the refrigerator open, and use natural light when possible.

Using CFL bulbs will save you more than sixty percent of the cost of lighting compared with using incandescent light bulbs. Sure CFL lamps are a little more expensive but these are recovered easily because of its longer life and the energy saving feature it has.

In most households the monthly electric bill is as follows, 44% goes to the heating and cooling systems; 33% goes to lighting and other appliances; 14% goes to heating the water; and 9% goes to the refrigerator. Check and see where you might be able to make some changes and save money and energy.