Uncommon Energy Conscious Ways to Save Money on Your Utility Bills

Everyone knows all the common ways to save money on their utility bills like changing to compact fluorescent bulbs, turning off the lights when leaving the room, installing a programmable thermostat and fixing leaks or a toilet that runs.

Here are some more ways to save on your utility bills that most people never even consider.

If your home is equipped with a sump pump, make sure the water is being pumped out at least 20 feet away from the foundation of the house. Many times I have seen water being pumped out only 2-3 feet away and that water then seeps back in and that same water is constantly being pumped out. This makes your sump pump operate many more times than needed especially during spring thaw and during periods of heavy rain.

If you have an extra refrigerator that you keep full of cold beer and soft drinks, don't put that refrigerator in the garage especially in the summer months or if you live in a warm climate. The garage can get extremely warm which is going to cause the refrigerator to run even more to keep your drinks cold. You can really save money if you unplug the refrigerator in the garage during the summer months and store your drinks in the basement. Another option is to put the extra refrigerator in the basement where it's already much cooler.

Clean out all of the lint from the clothes dryer vent or replace the whole vent from the dryer to the outside. Over years of use dryer lint get caught in the dryer vent especially if your dryer is equipped with the flexible or accordion type vent. This added lint causes the dryer to run less efficiently. Check the dryer vent outside to make sure that the flap is closing all the way when the dryer is off. I have seen lint caught at the top hinge off that flap causing the flap to stay open. When that flap stays open cold and warm air are entering and exiting your home. That dryer vent flap needs to be completely closed when the dryer is off. It's the same concept as sealing leaks around doors and windows.

Garage door openers are a great convenience especially at night. Many of them have two lights and are on a delayed timer where the lights stay on for 5 minutes. That's 5 minutes when you open the door to leave and 5 more minutes when you return, 10 minutes each trip. Many people will do this several times a day. You can remove 1 of the bulbs and cut the energy consumption by half and still have sufficient lighting. Another idea is to pull the car out in the morning and leave it out throughout the day and only put the car back in the garage in the evening.

The savings will vary from household to household, but any savings large or small is better than no savings at all. The above ideas will also save on wear and tear on each appliance extending their lifespan.