Save on Electricity, Save the World (level 1… the basics)

Want to know how you can save the world AND be a Hero in your home? It’s not about saving kittens out of trees, or wearing spandex and a cape under your clothes. I mean, you can do those things if you want, but your family may question your scanning the police frequencies for lofted felines.

So what’ll take it to the next level? How are you going to reduce your carbon footprint? What tricks save on the electricity you use, keep cash in your pocket, and keep you from being the lightswitch police?

This is going to be the first part of a two part guide on saving electricity to help save the world. So often when doing the research for the “Money Saving Tip of the Day”, I’ve found that the tips that apply to energy savings can really apply to only home owners. Which is all well and good and I’m more than happy to share that knowledge. But I rent. And as much as I would love sometimes to do some minor “projects” around the house, truth is it isn’t mine. Which is why I’ve titled Part 1 “the basics”, because these are the things you can do in any living situation to reduce your electric bill.

Compact Florescent Bulbs (google shopping)
Compared to light bulbs that give off the same amount of light, Compact Florescents generally use less power and live about nine times longer, but they do have a higher purchase price. In the United States, a CFB can save over US $30 in electricity costs over the lamp’s life time compared to an incandescent lamp and save 2,000 times its own weight in greenhouse gases. Compact florescent Bulbs are able to save up to 75% on your monthly electric bill. It is recommended to use them in all overhead lighting situations so their effectiveness is maximized.

Hot Water Jacket
If your hot water heater is electric, that can account for up to 20% of your energy bill! By purchasing a hot water jacket (which run between $10-20) you’ll be able to insulate your hot water tank and reduce the amount of energy that goes into heating the tank. If you’re renting, offer to purchase it for your landlord and ask them to install it for you.

The Fridge
Because this is the “level 1″ post I won’t get into investing in more energy efficient appliances, instead, an interesting tip that I’ve found is to fill empty containers with water to fill in the spaces in your refrigerator that are empty. These water filled containers work as “cooling cores” in your refrigerator that occupy space, store cold air, and reuse old containers, such as milk jugs. All of this reduces the amount of energy it requires to keep the unit cool and will in turn save you some cash.

This is only the start, there are a bunch of other ways to save on your energy bill that will be covered in tomorrows post, which will be focused more on homeowners. Are there any simple tips that you can share that will save anyone, anywhere money on their energy bill?

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How do you save money on the energy? Let us know in the comments below!