Tips for Saving Electricity at Home

Saving electricity at home can save not only dollars in your pocket, but can also make a huge impact on our environment. Becoming energy conscious does not mean we have to go without, it just means to become aware of the little things in your home that wasting energy.

For instance, leaving a computer on and running when no one is using it is still using energy. A computer running with a 300 watt power source can be consuming 70 to 100 watts. Desktop computers use more electricity than the laptops simply because they have a faster processor than a laptop. When on the internet you are also consuming more electricity than when you are working off line. The monitor left on is also contributing to needless energy waste.

Cell phone chargers left plugged in when not charging are still pulling energy from an outlet. Some households have more than one cell phone and more than one charger plugged in. Unplugging these can help save on utilities. The wireless earpieces for these cell phones requires a charger too, be sure to unplug these when not in use.

Small appliances left plugged in will but a drain on your utility use. Electric coffee pots, especially the ones with a clock and timer on them, are a constant drain. Keeping the coffee hot in a insulated thermos instead of on the hot plate cuts usage plus the coffee tastes fresher.

Do we really need electric can openers or the rechargeable kinds? It is not that difficult to open a can when a manual can opener. Think about those bread machines and crock pots. These small appliances are plugged in for hours while they are supposedly making our life easier.

Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. The new fluorescent bulbs now come in all shapes and brightness, making them more useable than they once were.

Television sets left on and running for hours can put a big drain on your energy use as well. When not in the room, turn them off. Do not have a television running all night in your bedroom. How about reading a book instead of watching television?

Unless you are running a dishwasher that requires high heat, consider turning the water heater down a notch or two. Also when looking to your water heater make sure it is running at peak performance, the heater coils can become corroded and make keeping the water in the tank hot more work on your electrical supply.

These are just small steps for saving electricity at home. It is not necessary to become totally electric free to make an impact on your pocket and environment. We can make a difference if we all take responsibility for the electric waste areas in our own home.