Ceiling Fans Light Globes

Ceiling Fans Light Globes

10 Ways To Reduce Your Electricity Costs

The constantly rising costs of the fossil fuels used to generate most of electricity, combined with the cost of improving the distribution network and the development of new nuclear power plants means that we are going to be subjected to constant increases in our electric bills over the next decade. We need to look at the way we use electricity in our homes to see if you can reduce the electricity costs.

These 10 tips that will help you with small savings and help you reduce your electricity costs today!

1)  Make sure that the washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher are full every time you use them.

2)  Use modern detergents that wash at lower temperatures.

3)  Adjust the timer and thermostat on your water heating system so that you have hot water when you need it most.

4)  Encourage your family to save hot water by taking shorter showers, or running less water in the tub.

5) Air conditioning most people find it comfortable if the thermostat is set between 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit, every degree your set your thermostat lower will cost you 7 to 10% on your cooling costs.

6) Always keep the doors and windows closed and replace or clean you systems air filters regularly.

7)  Use low energy ceiling fans to circulate the cool air they will make you feel 3 or 4 degrees cooler and cost less than one cent per hour to operate.

 Appliances and lights, when not in use - TURN THEM OFF. When you leave a room and do not intend to return immediately, turn off the lights.

9)  Take more care and limit your day to day usage – when you leave a room, even for a few minutes try turning off the lights and appliances.

10) Think when you replace appliances and light bulbs – when you are shopping for to replace older appliances take special note of the energy ratings for each appliance, they are clearly labelled and a good choice now will pay dividends for many years. Try the lower energy bulbs they are initially cost a little more but the give a brighter light at a lower wattage and last much longer that a conventional globe.

At first these changes will seem petty , especially to the younger members of the family when they have to remember to turn off unnecessary lights and appliances when not in use, but once the habit is acquired the rewards will show from day one in your lower bills.

Once you get into the energy saving habit, you could take a look at some alternative energy projects that you can build and install in your home. Once you start to reduce your electricity  costs the desire to save more could become a habit.

About the Author

Chris Hartley is an advocate for green energy systems,especially DIY projects for the home, he is also an affiliate for some of the better home built projects. With the price of oil rising and the world politics getting more unstable, its time for us to at least consider the future possibilties.

CFL Dangers?

I was recently told by a friend that works in the lighting industry that installing a CFL in an enclosed fixture (can light, hall light, ceiling fan w/ a globe, etc.) is dangerous because of the heat from the bulb's base. I don't get it...

As with many things, there is often a grain of truth in the ridiculous.

The electronics of a CFL are indeed in the base of the bulb. Under normal circumstances, the base of a CFL stays as cool as a cucumber, or nearly so.

Yet, there are two "dangers" if you can call them that.

The first is if those electronics fail. In that case, it is possible to overheat the base of the bulb, and damage the surrounding area. Obviously, this is not an issue in its incandescent cousin.

Secondly, when installing a CFL, one must be careful not to introduce it to a particularly hot environment, because that can hasten a failure mode with those electronics. Again, this is not an issue with an incandescent bulb.

WrightStuff Ep.2: Ceiling Fan Switch Repair

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