What more can I do to lower electric bill?

**alarosalpn** · 01-06-2011, 07:10 PM

I hang dry (indoors) all laundry,unplug things that arent in use,lights off...
I've brought it down 175kwh in 1 month but I'd like to double that...Is it possible? I know my fridge is a factor..It's 10 years old..I'm hoping to replace it with income tax...
Any and all suggestions appreciated...
Feel free to ask questions if needed.
Thanks!
Amy

**savvy_sniper** · 01-06-2011, 07:12 PM

Read this thread start to finish. There is a wealth of information there.

Electric Usage Challenge

**sunshine** · 01-06-2011, 07:33 PM

A couple of ideas I didn't see in the other thread:

cook a huge batch of food at once, then just reheat - instead of using your appliances for full cooking each meal. (for instance, when you're already using the oven for meatloaf, also bake a casserole, etc.)

Turn back the thermostat a few degrees to cut back on the fan blower running as much, etc.

We rigged a solar garden light for a light in the bathroom - we put the solar panel from it, in the window, then hung the actual light on a sconce on the wall - since we run a light in the bathroom all night, this cut our electric bill considerably. We also went to a solar light for the porch, and that alone cut our bill by $20/month.

**shoiji** · 01-07-2011, 09:37 AM

I have been using the microwave to do a lot of cooking, especially in the summer time. Seems to cost less than heating up the oven or stove top. The crockpot is another way to cook cheaply.

Make sure you have energy efficient light bulbs.

**Sassyclass** · 01-07-2011, 10:07 AM

If you really want to get Ninja on this you could flip the breakers off to everything except furnace & water pump if that's what you have, when you leave for long periods of time.

Cat

**Frugal Nurse** · 01-07-2011, 08:01 PM

I have a NewWave oven that virtually eliminated the electric oven. Electric use is significantly lower because the food cooks faster. I got it as a gift and probably wouldn't have paid the $130 it costs.

I don't know if you have a cable box/HDTV box, but that sucks up a lot of juice and many people leave it on to capture the shows they want to record. Unplug it.

I question the new refrigerator. How long will it take you to recoop the cost of a fridge with a a more efficient unit? 10 years is not that old. The were making efficient units in 1991. Perhaps a good vacuum underneath for a smoother run?

BTW: bringing it down 175 kwh is significant! kudos!!

You didn't mention of you had electric heat. or if your stove was electric.

If you've really scaled down and there's nothing left to skim from candlelight dinners

are always nice.

**kitkat0649** · 01-07-2011, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by Frugal Nurse

I don't know if you have a cable box/HDTV box, but that sucks up a lot of juice and many people leave it on to capture the shows they want to record. Unplug it.

I crunched the numbers this morning, we are spending $26 a month to run 2 HD cable boxes 24/7!!!! I will definitely be watching how often I leave them on from here on out!

**alarosalpn** · 01-07-2011, 10:23 PM

Thank you for all the responses...
I have electric hot water and everything else but heat is gas...

The only other thign I can think to do is only do laundry at night..I just have to figure out what the "off-peak" time is,if they have such a thing...

**mndtrp** · 01-09-2011, 06:33 PM

You could probably turn the thermostat on the water heater down a bit.

**Frugal Nurse** · 01-09-2011, 07:30 PM

Agreed, turn down water heater temp.

It seems like you maxed out on all you can do.

It looks like dinner by candlelight it is

Keep up the good work and I'll bet you'll continue to see a reduction.
More so in the summer months when you cook on the grill and use the lights less.

**khaski** · 01-10-2011, 09:36 AM

One thing we do sometimes, which sounds a little 'old fashion' but I actually like it- after the kids are in bed, if just hubby and I are lounging, watching a show, we'll light up a bunch of candles and turn all lights off. Beats just sitting in the dark with only the tv for light, and saves us a few dozen hours of running the overhead light fixture a month. Kinda nice, too!

**Judi Dial** · 01-10-2011, 03:54 PM

By the same token, we don't have a TV, so we watch movies, etc. online. When we do this, I turn off all the other lights in the house, like a movie theater!

Also, if you haven't, get used to the idea of lighting as you go. That is, to get from my kitchen to the office where I am, I have kitchen lights, livingroom lights, hall lights. I try and turn 'em on/off as I go through the house instead of leaving lights on anywhere I'm not.

Look into a sun scoop if you own your own home, or try putting LED lights on a track instead of CFLs or incandescents.

Here's a link to our electric company's saving tips. Also they have a chart that tells how much appliances use. PSNH.com - Energy Saving Tips

A good book is Home Energy Diet, I first found out about it when we were considering trying to go off the grid. The company whose website I found said it was the first thing they recommended, always.

IHTH!

Judi

**Maisiedotes** · 01-12-2011, 12:28 PM

I just read that if you have a "dry" setting on your dishwasher, you should shut it off to save electrcity. Also your washing machine- you can wash in cold water to save on the hot water heater. When we take showers, we turn the water on to get wet, then shut it off, wash up, then turn it back on to rinse.

We cook on the grill alot in the summer as well.

ETA: putting in a programmable thermostat saved us alot of money as well... it puts the heat at 62 at night and at 6:00am M-F, it goes on, and on the weekends it goes on a little later since we sleep a little later.

**lparker** · 01-17-2011, 10:12 AM

I know this thread is answered but I'll throw in my 2 cents.

http://www.cl-p.com/faq/category.asp...k+Pricing+(VPP)Variable+Peak+Pricing

And definitely put a timer or a switch on the hot water tank.

Lee

**alarosalpn** · 01-17-2011, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by lparker

I know this thread is answered but I'll throw in my 2 cents.

http://www.cl-p.com/faq/category.asp...k+Pricing+(VPP)Variable+Peak+Pricing

And definitely put a timer or a switch on the hot water tank.

Lee

I was looking at that but unless I'm understanding it wrong you have to switch to that from the regular rates...