You could start with simple things such as CFL's, check the coils on your fridge and freezer and clean them. Set the A/C back a few degrees. Check your furnace (a/c) filter. Turn off lights in unused areas. Check your local electric company for more ideas.
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About the only thing I can suggest is dealing with air conditioning. A lot of people will turn it up and down, come in from the heat and turn it WAY up looking for relief, when you really should just keep it as constant as possible, perhaps turning down at night if necessary. AC is probably the biggest cost on your bill, the rest is out of your control except the obvious turning off lights that aren't needed.
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Unplug everything that is not in use. It still sucks some energy when plugged in. Replace light bulbs with energy effient ones. You can buy a pack at Home Depot for cheap. Instead of using an air conditioner, open up the windows and turn on fans. Always turn off everything when not in use.
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1. Change all your light bulbs to florescent light bulbs
2. Turn your water heater down about 5-10 degress lower
3. Keep all windows and doors closed - usually houses keep themselves cool.
4. Do not use the dryer, air dry your clothes outside
5. Turn your computer off every time you are not on it or learn how to make it go into standby.
6. Use your cellphone as a clock and alarm and unplug the ones at home.
7. Make sure you turn off lights right away when not in use in each room
8. If you have a pool, that filter will eat up electricity. So please only leave it on 2 days a week.
9. Spend more time out, than inside
10. Use fans instead of air conditioning
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Stop using your dryer. My electric bill dropped $30 a month when I started hanging my clothes out on the line. If you do have to run the dryer do it during the week in the later hours of the night. Also install the energy saver bulbs. Unplug anything that is not running like a cell phone charger because it does still draw electric even thought the phone is not charging. Install dimmer switches in your house. You don't really need to sit in the bright light to watch tv. I have done all of this and it has cut my electric bill down somewhat. But the dryer is the big thing.
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personal experience
On your monthly bill will be a Phone number usually on back or bottom, for the company that your paying, Check you bill to see what your Average budget is set for, like on your gas bills, If you call the companys, and tell them its to high of a set bidget and want to know if you can have the budget powered, they probably have a minimum for you maybe set $20-$40 dollars less, than what you are currently paying.
other things with electricity, Buy Energy saver light bulbs, It really makes a biig difference and they last for ever it seems, most last for years at a time. Maybe you do lots of baking or cooking at home? As far as the cooking, buy a outdoor cooker not electric, and use that once ina while back yard picnics are fun, plus when dining at home, sometimes you can have a Fruit salad night and not use th stove, eat healthier this way. This should give your mind a good though as to use a run down on what you have running constantly around the house that can be turned off when you not around.
Do you leave the radio or TV's on n all the time? Or the computers left on ?
good luck let us know how the next bils are in july and August and how much your bills went down after initially spending more to buy those light bulb and getting them around the house and garage, OK?
take care from MN. Also do you have any Windows letting the sun shine in from Roof, they really help out cn add 4-5 Degrees to the rooms near the Windows.
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personal experiences the last 3 years.
Turn off lights when not in room. Plug out all appliances, that you can, when not using. For instance the coffee maker the microwave etc. And keep the central air to 75-77, it keeps cool but won't run all the time.Why keep the air on when you not home, turn it to 80 so your're not wasting it.
Cell phone chargers and all other chargers should be plugged out when not in use, they are the worst energy suckers there is.
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Woman on a budget.
I have converted my home to using only compact floresent bulbs. Also all of those appliences, computer, can opener, microwave, etc, can also use electricity while not in use so unplug them if you aren't using them.
Put a dry towel in when drying clothes, turn the air conditioner up a couple of degrees, dimmers on lights, upgrade appliences to energystar, unplug that fridge/freezer down stairs with one bottle of import beer no one will drink anyway.
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Cheapskate
the best and easiest way would probably limit yourself to what you use. dont leave the tv on when you leave the room, turn off lights that are unneccessary, sleep with the tv off instead of using the sleep timer. dont leave computers or things on that you dont need. that type of stuff. try keeping it consistant and see if you see any improvements
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i do laundry only between hours of 8-12 noon then don't use any major appliances until after 7p and helps alot and turn on lights only when needed we use alot of candles or lower watts for bulbs.my bill for the month is only 60 dollars for a 2 bedroom townhouse.and i wash in cold water always.
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