80+ Ways to Save Money on Your Electric Bill

Electric bill a little high? Here’s how you can save money on your electric bill and possibly hundreds of dollars per year. Your electric bill doesn’t have to be high – start saving money on electricity today!

1. Turn off lights when you’re not in a room.
2. Purchase energy efficient light bulbs. Use high quality L.E.D. (Light Emitting Diode) or C.F.L. (Compact Fluorescent) bulbs. L.E.D. is said to be the most energy efficient.
3. Replace outdoor lights with motion sensor lighting.
4. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use.
5. Avoid heating your home with electric energy. Use natural gas, propane, heating oil, or firewood instead.
6. Set your computers to enter sleep mode a little sooner than normal.
7. Turn off any breakers to appliances you never use or don’t intend to use.
8. Use table lamps for lighting.
9. Turn off your computer at night.
10. Make a budget. Just having a limitation on your utilities category will help you remember all these tips.
11. Watch less TV and read a good book instead.
12. Keep your dryer lint trap clean.
13. Wash dishes by hand.
14. Dry clothes on a clothesline during summertime.
15. Turn off your Wi-Fi when you’re away on vacation.
16. Avoid using a hair dryer as much as possible.
17. Raise your refrigerator and freezer temperatures.
18. Turn off fans when you aren’t using them.
19. Clean your refrigerator coils.
20. Keep your computer software up to date. Sometimes these updates include energy efficiency improvements.
21. Completely fill your dishwasher before running it.
22. Run full loads of laundry instead of just a few clothes at a time.
23. Untangle clothes before you put them in the dryer.
24. Don’t use unnecessary “display” gadgets such as scrolling photo albums.
25. Rake leaves instead of using an electric blower.
26. Install solar panels on your roof. You might even be able to put energy back into the grid and receive a check!
27. Switch electric companies to get a lower price if possible.
28. Find out if there is an “off-peak” time of day when electricity costs are lower.
29. Buy energy efficient appliances.
30. Paint your rooms bright colors. Light will reflect more and you’ll feel less tempted to turn on extra lights.
31. Use appropriately sized heating elements and pots on your stovetop.
32. Turn off your stove or oven 5 minutes before the cooking time ends.
33. Use your doors instead of your air conditioner. Ventilate your house during the night or early in the morning and store the cool air during the day.
34. Watch TV shows and movies on Netflix (see review) only when you really want to see something instead of subscribing to cable. You’ll find yourself leaving the TV on less often, and you won’t be paying a high cable bill!
35. Use a fan instead of an air conditioner.
36. Make sure you’re not paying your neighbor’s electric bill! It’s happened!
37. Call your electric company and ask for any discount or assistance programs that can be provided.
38. Wear warm clothes during the wintertime instead of using other heat sources.
39. Use less warm/hot water if you have an electric water heater.
40. Use programmable timer switches on appliances.
41. Make sure your thermostat is really off and not just on low when you don’t need it.
42. When you build a new home, make sure you make it energy efficient. Create open spaces where heat can move freely throughout the home.
43. Use space heaters instead of central heating.
44. Wash clothes in cold water instead of hot.
45. Use an indoor energy meter on your appliances to identity electricity hogs.
46. Keep your windows covered during the summertime to keep the heat out.
47. Keep your windows covered during the wintertime to keep the heat in.
48. Change the air conditioning filter. A dirty air conditioning filter restricts air flow and makes your unit work harder – using more electricity.
49. Teach your children how to conserve energy.
50. Make sure you have proper insulation throughout your home.
51. Use a regular razor to shave instead of an electric shaver.
52. Don’t use electric blankets – simply purchase thick blankets!
53. Close doors behind you when you leave your house even if it is just for a few moments.
54. Seal off pet doors.
55. Use candlelight at night.
56. Don’t use ever-spinning backup hard drives or DVR’s.
57. Install more plants. Trees and other plants will shade your home and reduce how hot your home gets.
58. Invest in a programable thermostat.
59. Use a microwave oven. They’re not very expensive and are estimated by some to consume up to 30% less energy than a traditional oven. You’ll also get the added benefit of not having heat from your traditional oven enter the room.
60. Have your children help pay the electric bill.
61. Read paperback or hardback books instead of using electronic readers.
62. Throw away night lights.
63. Install solar powered lighting for your outdoor walkways.
64. Use a portable music player instead of huge speaker systems.
65. Pay your electric bill using a cash back debit card from PerkStreet.com (see review).
66. Arrange for an HVAC inspection. Hire a certified technician for an annual check on heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. They’ll usually find ways for you to save electricity and be worth your money.
67. Ask your electric company for a fixed bill if you can’t afford high bill months.
68. Charge your cellphone, laptop, and/or tablets at work (if they let you).
69. Eat more foods that don’t need to be cooked.
70. Put a sticky note in a common area with “Use Less Electricity” written on it. It’s a gentle reminder.
71. Manually check email once a day – don’t have it fetch.
72. Directly connect your modem to your computer instead of using Wi-Fi.
73. Set your bills to auto-pay. That way, you won’t have to spend extra energy on the computer paying your bills manually.
74. Turn off everything, get out of the house, and play outside!
75. Live in as small of a home as possible.
76. Buy and install a shower timer.
77. Buy low-flow faucets and install!
78. If you have an electric stove, keep the lid on the pot to prevent heat loss. You can also do this if you have a gas stove to save some money.
79. Use natural light to instead of other light sources.
80. Install ceiling fans in the summer months to cool your home.
81. Weather strip your doors and windows.
82. Insulate your garage door. This helps the room above the garage stay warmer so you don’t have to use as much electric heat.
83. Balance your vents throughout your house to create even heating.

There you have it. Now go save some money on your electric bill!

Do you have other tips or would like to help me edit this list? Leave a comment!