Your Thermostat is Most Important.

1. In the winter, set your thermostat at 69 degrees during the day and 64 or lower at night. Each degree lower than 75 degrees will save you 4 or 5 percent on your electric bill. Set your thermostat on “auto” rather than “on.” Be sure to wear warm clothes.
2. In the summer, set your thermostat at 80 degrees or higher during the day and 77 degrees or higher at night. Wear shorts and T-shirts to stay cool. Be sure to use the “fan in the window” during cool nights to lower the temperature. (See attached description.)

Other ways to save on your electric bill:

1. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (cfl’s) in the light fixtures you use most often. They use less energy than a regular light bulb and they last 7 or 8 years.
2. Wash full loads only and use cold water only in your washing machine.
3. Only dry clothes until they are dry and don’t leave your dryer running longer than needed.
4. When using your dishwasher, shut it off and open the door when it gets to the drying cycle.
5. When washing dishes by hand, only use a thin stream of water. This will save money on the hot water heater.
6. Put an insulating blanket on your hot water heater and set the temperature at 120 degrees or lower.
7. In the winter, be sure all doors and windows are closed tightly and properly sealed.
8. Close drapes and blinds during the hot hours of the day in the summer.
9. Use ceiling fans or other fans to stay cool in the summer.
10. Turn off lights when they are not in use.
11. Reduce shower time to two or three minutes.
12. Turn televisions off when they are not in use.
13. Change furnace filters/ac filters at least every two months.
14. If possible, use a microwave oven when cooking rather than the regular oven.
15. Schedule family meetings to see if you can think of other ways to save electricity.

Follow these techniques and you will be on your way to saving 10 to 30 percent on your electric bill. Please remember that when you save $30 per month that is $360 per year and $3,600 every 10 years!