Living in Florida our electric bill can sometimes resemble a luxury car
payment, so I was out to find ways to lower our costs. I’m home all day pounding on a computer
writing incredible checklists, so I would like to be comfortable. We have a programmable
thermostat already, but I raised the daytime temperature to 78 degrees from the 77 it was
previously set at.
I changed out all my office bulbs to CFL’s along with other lighting
both inside and outside our house. We have ceiling fans in every room and they ran non-stop.
Now I turn them all off except for the one in the room I’m using. I’ve also starting going down the Cut Home Energy Costs checklist and am
implementing many of the items listed. Now I’m actually looking forward to my next electric
bill. Well, sort of.
Set your thermostat up one degree in the summer and down one degree in the winter from your usual setting
Clean or replace air filters timely (check your owner’s manual) so your HVAC runs more efficiently
Turn off ceiling fans when leaving the room
Turn off lights that aren’t needed for safety or a task
Limit the time pumps run (pools, spas)
Use economy settings on your dishwasher
Turn off electronics when not being used (computers, monitors, DVD’s)
Lower the water heater thermostat (to 120 degrees)
Replace lighting with energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs (including outdoor lighting)
Wash clothes on warm and cold instead of hot
Clean the lint filter in your dryer after each use so the dryer runs more efficiently
Seal cracks and leaks in windows and doors
Add insulation to your house (add weather stripping to windows and doors, use drapes or blinds on windows to block hot sun, reinsulated attic)
Use landscaping to help your house maintain temperatures – plant deciduous trees that shade the house in the summer but allow sunlight in the winter
Contact your local utility company and ask for a free energy audit of your house
Ask gas or electric company if you qualify for hardship payment plans
