Last Updated on October 31, 2022 by Ellen Christian
As prices go up and up, I am always looking for tips to lower your electric bill. I was inspired to write this post after receiving an item for review but these are all tips that we use regularly and that I hope will help you keep your expenses in check. This post contains affiliate links.
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9 Tips to Lower Your Electric Bill
Marty and I have been taking a look at our expenses recently. We are trying to see where we can save a little money. With the economy the way it is, I’m sure that I’m not the only one who feels this way. One of the things that we’ve been looking at is our electric bill. While we try to be aware of where we are using electricity, it’s not always as easy as turning off lights that aren’t being used. Some things draw electricity even when they are off. These are called phantom loads. I hope that these tips to lower your electric bill will work for you and your family.
- Turn off things that are not in use.
- Insulate around windows and doors to stop air leaks.
- Install a programmable thermometer to lower your heat when you go to bed at night.
- During the summer, close the curtains or blinds when the sun is shining in. This helps keep the room cool and will limit the amount you need to run fans and air conditioners.
- Change your furnace and air conditioner filters regularly. This helps keep these units running at their best which uses less electricity.
- Replace your light bulbs with the new energy saving versions.
- Make sure your appliances are Energy Star efficient which are cheaper to operate.
- If your electric company offers off-peak rates, make sure you do things like running the washing machine and vacuuming during those lower rate times.
- Install a GreenGenius Smart Surge protector to control phantom loads.
The GreenGenius Smart Surge protector by Accell provides safe and secure surge protection for all your electronic devices. It stops a power surge by coming between the power surge and your valuable equipment. It also offers noise reduction circuitry and provides clean, conditioned power to your equipment for the best sound and picture. What makes the GreenGenius different than your average surge protector is the patented smart technology that knows when to turn off unused devices. This not only saves power, it saves money.
Many appliances like your computer and television use power even when they are off. This small drain of power multiplied by however many of these appliances you have in your house can add up. Think about it. How many computers, televisions, Blu-ray or DVD players, microwaves, coffee pots, etc. do you have in your house? A study by Cornell University suggests that these phantom loads can cost you $200 a year in electricity costs.
How can you tell what is drawing a phantom load in your home? Does it have a digital read out on it… like the time on your stove or your microwave? Does it have a remote control like your television or your game system? Does it have a rechargeable battery like your cordless phone? Does it have an external power supply like your inkjet printer or your iPod dock? All of these things are adding money to your electric bill even when you aren’t using them.
The GreenGenius Smart Surge protector I received has 10 outlets (model D080B-06K). There are 5 Energy Saver outlets that you can power on or off by the master outlet. There are 4 always on outlets. Plug the things that draw phantom loads into the Energy Saver outlets. When you shut them off, the GreenGenius will terminate the phantom load as well. Plug the things that don’t draw phantom loads like lamps into the always on outlets. If you want, you can turn off the Smart Power technology and turn it into a standard surge protector.
If you are looking for a way to reduce the phantom loads in your home to lower your electric costs, the GreenGenius Smart Surge is definitely something you need to invest in. It is available in black and white, has a 6-foot power cord and can be purchased with 6, 8 or 10 outlets.
Do you have any tips to lower your electric bill?
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
Wouldn’t all of the items in your home that draw phantom loads have to be in the same area to plug them into this smart surge ?
I use one in areas of my home that have a lot of them – my office & my entertainment center. If you have other items, you’d need to get more than one.
I like the green genius smart surge….I think I’ll bring it up to my mom she could really use it in her house.
we bought a power strip that has ‘green’ outlets. Definitely a great tip!
I am happy to say I follow all of these and it does help. I am one of those guilty of leaving the lights or tv on when leaving a room, but I am making a determined effort to change that bad habit. Thank you for the reminders.
Great tips also in winter open curtains during the day for the sun heat. I am going to buy all insulated curtains this year to save even more.