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News
1/28/2010
Why are my electric bills so high?
The recent cold weather snap has had an adverse effect on all homeowners, served by either member-owned or investor-owned electric utilities, that use electric to heat their homes. When Artic air invaded Kentucky causing mid-January wind chills in the single digits and temperatures struggling to reach mid-teens for several days, heating systems were running a lot harder to keep homes at a constant comfortable temperature. Since heating accounts for about 50% of your electric bill, it can add up quickly. By lowering your thermostat as much as one degree, you can save 3% on your home’s electric bill.
1) Turn off TVs and lights when you leave a room, turn off computers when not in use, and unplug cell phone chargers.
2) Set your heating system’s thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting—even if you have to put on an extra sweatshirt or sweater.
3) Keep your heating system filters clean—change at least monthly during the heating season.
4) Keep your air vents free of any obstructions.
5) Open your blinds and/or drapes on the sunny side of the house during the day, but make sure you close them at night.
6) Use compact fluorescent lamps when replacing incandescent bulbs. You can save up to 75% in lighting energy and they last at least 7 times longer.
7) Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees or lower.
8) Insulate your water heater and pipes if it’s located in an unheated space.
9) Wash full loads of laundry at the coolest water possible. Rinse clothes in cold water.
10) Stop your dryer as soon as clothes are dry. Overdrying wastes energy.
11) Dry loads one right after another. You use less energy because the dryer is already heated.
12) Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded.
13) Don’t use the “rinse hold” option for just a few dirty dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.
14) Turn off exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens when done. In just one hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed air.
15) Keep your fireplace damper tightly closed unless a fire is going.
For more energy-saving tips, please visit www.clarkenergy.com or call 1-800-992-3269 and ask for a copy of “Energy Savers-Tips on Saving Energy and Money at Home.”
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