Are your electric bills costing your budget a little too much? You have been especially conscious of turning off the computer when you're done as well as using the dishwater only when it's a full load, but the monthly bill is not showing any significant result of any of your efforts. Maybe you haven't come across facts that could help you make your energy saving efforts more efficient and really see the results on your electric bill. Then here are five facts you need to know: Fact #1 Fluorescent lights over incandescent Replacing and using low energy bulbs instead of incandescent can save you as much as $30 over its lifetime because it uses less energy, an amazing 75% less than its incandescent counterpart, and last ten times longer too! An Energy Star certified bulb will save you even more. In the US, as much as $1.5 billion was conserved in 2007. It has also contributed significantly in mitigating the greenhouse effect by preventing an additional input of gases into the atmosphere. It was estimated that by switching halogen bulbs to compact fluorescent lights, it is equivalent to 2.85 million acres of planted trees or getting off some two million cars off the road every year. Fact #2 Plugged appliances use up energy So you have turned off the computer for the night, but have you unplugged it? Electricity is still being used up by the appliance even if you have been turning them off when you're done if you have not unplugged it. Hence, it doesn't translate much to your electricity bill. Turn it off and unplug it. This should be a standard operating procedure around the house. When the bill for the month arrives, you will see a significant difference and a tangible proof of your cost cutting measures. Fact #3 Older models or appliances in need of repair Older models are made differently. More often than not, they use up more energy than their modern counterparts. If you pay close attention to your not-so-modern appliances around the house, you will see that they tend to use more electricity than the energy-efficient models out in the market today. It's not that you need to buy a new one even if the current is still running. You just have to make sure that it is not using too much energy. It helps to regularly maintain your appliances. Clean your air conditioning units at least once a month. Defreeze the refrigerator to clean up the heavy frost which causes your refrigerator to run all the time. Fact #4 Home design matters Whether it's winter and you're running up the thermostat to warm up the house or it's summer and the air conditioning is going full blast to cool you down, it is important to keep your house draft free. This may mean sealing up the windows with curtains, caulk the windows as well as cover them up with plastic. In the summer, you can either use up heavy curtains to lock up the coolness inside the house or you can install fans which use less electricity than a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. Fact #5 Don't cook too much using your electric stove and oven Imagine how much time and energy you can save when you do all your cooking for the following week on a Saturday? Not only are you going to save up energy but you will be quite thankful coming home from work the next Monday with dinner already cooked, all you have to do is heat it up. These are simple facts that could mean a whole lot of difference in your electric bill. You wouldn't need to make a complete makeover. You just have to make some small changes around the house and see the effect on your electric bill.
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