Save Power At Home - Start Today With These 6 Simple Ideas

If you have energy bills that make you pale whenever you open them then you couldn’t go wrong implementing a few power saving ideas into your home. Most people don’t realize how much energy they waste on a daily basis around the house. All it takes is a little discipline to stick to a few of these ideas and you will notice your bills going down.

You can make great savings each month by cutting your power bills by as much as 20-30%, just by simply plugging all of those little hidden ‘energy leaks’ which can be effortless to implement. Indeed, just by making a few simple changes you can put more cash in your pocket each month. And who doesn’t like that idea.

So how can you start saving massively on your power costs?  Here are six simple ways to easily save power within your home.

1). Appliances: The best place to start is at the beginning.  If you are in the market for buying a new appliance, i.e. a television, refrigerator, microwave, washing machine, dryer, dehumidifier, dishwasher, computer, printer, fax machine etc, first  check to see if it carries the Energy Star logo.  This indicates that the appliance is compliant with current energy standards and regulations while displaying how much power it uses per year.

In fact buying energy efficient products comes with its share of rewards too.  Not only do you do something beneficial for the environment by reducing the amount of overall energy you consume but you have the added advantage of Energy Star’s rebates and tax exemptions on just about every household appliance imaginable making it a great incentive, where possible to upgrade.  www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=rebate.rebate_locator.  It is the savings over the appliances lifetime that make all the difference and the more energy efficient appliances you have in your home, the greater the savings.

2). Do you have the habit of leaving your TV, DVD player, computer etc. on standby mode often?  Most people are blissfully unaware that so called “sleeping gadget’s” can be big-time energy hogs consuming around forty percent of their normal power requirements.  Just make it a habit to turn off any appliance that’s not in use and you’ll begin seeing a big difference in your power bill.

3). Lights: Ever hear the expression “lit up like a Christmas tree?”  Does your home sometimes resemble one from the outside where practically every light and appliance is left on?  Turning off the lights in rooms that you don’t frequent is a good start.  Replacing your light bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs (CFL bulbs) is an even better move. These low energy bulbs last longer and will help you cut costs especially when you use them in places where you keep the lights on for hours at a stretch, like your porch lights, security and garden lights etc.

4). Laundry: Dry your clothes on a clothesline instead of relying on a dryer to do the task. Use full loads in your washing machine and cold water for every wash.  Set your machine’s washing cycle to the shortest cycle possible and only use longer cycles for really dirty clothes.

5). Hot Water: Geysers, according to some estimates are responsible for consuming around fifteen percent of the average home energy bill.  If you plan to go away for a while turn off the power supply to the geyser at the main switchboard.  Then of course there are the usual cost cutters, you can save on your hot water consumption by taking short showers instead of baths and installing aerators on low-flow showerheads.

6).Ovens: Try using a microwave instead of a standard-size oven that drains power.  Don’t pre-heat it longer than necessary whenever you do use it and keep the door closed to avoid losing heat.

By altering your energy using habits and implementing small, consistent changes on a daily basis you can save money on your energy bills and do a little bit for the environmental too.