Summertime Electricity Conservation Tips for Your Home

It may still be winter, but summer is just around the corner. Before you know it, things will start heating up and your air conditioner will be running full-blast. Following this, of course, will be the sky-high electrical bills that every homeowner dreads. But what if you did something different this year? What if you took a moment to learn what you need to know about summertime energy conservation before summer actually arrived?

Starting some of your conservation efforts now can help you reduce your electrical bills before they get out of control. You won’t have to dread that very first summer electrical bill and you won’t have to run around in the heat the first few weeks of summer trying to prepare your home for the remainder of the season. Find out how you can start reducing your summer electricity bills tomorrow by preparing for it today with these simple tips.

Think Differently About the Way You Eat

Do you do a lot of cooking on your stovetop or in your oven? If so, start exploring some other cooking methods now. Microwave cooking uses two-thirds less energy than using your stove. Cold meals that can be thrown together without any cooking preparation use no energy at all. Outdoor grilling can also save you tremendously on your electric bill during the summer.

Service Your Air Conditioner

Change your filter, clean the coils, and do some general maintenance on your air conditioner before you have to start using it. Be a frugal homeowner and have your air conditioner serviced now, while business is slow for air conditioning service professionals. Air conditioning service costs go up once the temperature starts rising so take advantage of the lower rates now. Also, consider changing out your old dial thermostat for a programmable thermostat. This can help you save a tremendous amount of money on your electric bills during the summer – up to $100 a year.

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January 30th, 2012 | Tags: , , | No Comments »

Go Green! Try These Green Electricity Tips at Home.

Eco-conscious homeowners have been working to find ways to go green at home for years now, but many homeowners don’t live an eco-friendly lifestyle. Many are just now learning what it means to go green or are making small efforts toward a bigger, long-term change. Wherever you fall on the “Green Scale,” there are plenty of simple, cost-effective tips you can use to go green with your electricity.

Here are some easy green electricity tips you can try right at home:

• Use solar chargers—Did you know that most of your electronics and toys can be charged with solar power chargers? Not only do they offer an efficient, green option for charging all of your electronics, but they’re also more convenient. When you use solar power chargers, there is no more reaching for a plug! You can find solar chargers for almost everything, including your laptop, cell phone, and camera.

• Pay attention to your appliances—If you don’t already use Energy Star rated appliances, start thinking about making upgrades. Most new appliances already come with the Energy Star label, and you can even find electronics, such as computers and radios, with Energy Star ratings as well. Your appliances and electronics are huge energy suckers, so if you want to go green in your home on a regular basis, start by paying attention to those.

• Reduce your overall energy use—Use more sunlight to warm the house and use the thermostat less. Dry your clothes on a line instead of using the dryer all the time. Use “smart” power strips that can be shut down at night. These are all simple, effective ways to use less power and see noticeable drops on your monthly electric bills.

Finally, don’t forget to check out green power options through your local electric companies. Many utility companies offer a green power option that uses renewable energy.

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January 24th, 2012 | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

Tips for Teaching Your Kids Electrical Safety

If you have children at home, chances are you have already drilled basic electrical safety information into them at a young age. Additionally, they have most likely learned a lot about electrical safety at school. By now, they probably know the typical dos and don’ts, but hearing about electrical safety and practicing it are two totally different things. And as most parents know, just because a child learns electrical safety doesn’t mean they will recall it and put it into practice on a daily basis. For many children, once something is out of sight, it’s out of mind!

However, electrical safety practices are incredibly important, especially when it comes to your children. Here are some fun ways to incorporate electrical safety knowledge into your child’s regular routine:

Coloring books—There are plenty of coloring books and art projects out there that have electrical safety themes. Search on-line specialty stores and toy stores for starters, and consider making your own. Many coloring books have pictures that teach kids to stay away from damaged wires, to keep appliances away from water, and so on.

Family games—Another way you can teach your kids electrical safety on a regular basis to to invent games to play around the house. You can play tag or hide and seek and create rules to learn from. For example, make a light switch “base,” and when your child reaches base, have them repeat tips back to you that relate to electricity in some way.

Entertaining videos—Videos that teach children basic electrical safety are another easy, fun way to keep the knowledge fresh in your child’s mind. Play these videos early in the morning, just before nap time, or on the weekend during family time. Many of the videos you’ll find will reinforce what your children are already learning about it in school, so they make excellent supplemental tools.

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January 17th, 2012 | Tags: , , , , | No Comments »

Electrical Safety Tips to Put into Practice in 2012

The holidays have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you should stop worrying about electrical safety around the home. Even though all of those lights, candles, and decorations that pose fire and electrical safety hazards are put away now, there is still plenty to be aware of when it comes to keeping your home and family safe from electrical hazards.

Put these electrical safety tips into practice this year to keep your home and loved ones safe all year long:

Have a professional electrical maintenance checkup—When was the last time you had your professional electrician visit for an electrical safety inspection? Bringing in your electrician to inspect your home for necessary repairs or potential electrical hazards is an important part of taking a proactive approach to electrical safety around the home. It never hurts to have an extra pair of eyes to make sure everything is in good working condition.

Install new arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)—Installing these will help prevent electrical fire hazards throughout the home and prevent shock. They are designed to monitor the balance of electric current flow, so that if there is an imbalance, they can trip the circuit.

Unplug small appliances after using them and don’t plug too many appliances into one outlet—This is one of the most common electrical safety tips homeowners should practice but it’s also the easiest to forget or bypass because we use our appliances on an everyday basis. However, unplugging small appliances such as your coffee pot and toaster can help prevent electrical hazards around the home. Also, be mindful not to overload your outlets with too many plugs. This is especially important in the kitchen and bathroom.

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January 9th, 2012 | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

Want to Save Money on Your New Year Electricity Bill?

The New Year makes you think about all of the things you want to do differently, right? Even if you don’t make a New Year resolution of some sort, it doesn’t hurt to consider areas in your life you’d like to improve. For many people, an important area of improvement is finances. Homeowners try all sorts of things to save money on bills each month, year after year. So, in 2012, how about learning how to save money on your electric bill?

As the Green movement continues to evolve and create new opportunities to use less energy, you have more options today than ever before to cut back on your energy bill. Her are just a few different ways you can save money on your electricity bill in the coming year:

Use a programmable thermostat—It’s all too easy to forget to adjust the temperature in your home, especially during the times of the year when outdoor temps tend to fluctuate and you are opening and closing the windows in between using your air conditioner. But running your air makes a huge difference in your electric bill, and a programmable thermostat can be a big help if you want to save money on your monthly energy bill.

Install ceiling fans—Ceiling fans give you the opportunity to use your air conditioning less frequently, and they are a green, efficient way to regulate and cool the rooms in your home. Unlike air conditioning, which cools the entire home, ceiling fans offer you the chance to cool only certain rooms in the house instead of wasting unnecessary electricity.

Upgrade your windows—This requires a significant investment, but it’s a great way to save money on your electric bill. Double-paned windows and other window upgrade options can impact how efficiently your home heats up or cools down. Air leakage and insulation problems can be improved with window upgrades, so don’t rule out this tip for saving money on electricity in 2012.

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January 3rd, 2012 | Tags: , , , | No Comments »