Saturday, February 14, 2009

How to Save on Your Next Electric Bill

By Barry Miller

As many institutions aim to conserve energy and protect the Earth, they encourage everyone to do his part. In a household setting, you may begin to extend a hand by starting it off with your reducing your electric bills. It does not only make you pay less and save more but also and more importantly enables you to do your little yet great efforts of conserving energy and preserving the Earth for the next generation.

It will truly make a huge difference if you can adopt some energy saving measures to help you reduce your use of electricity and possibly reduce some expenses. Listed below are some energy-saving tips designed and intended for workplaces and other offices.

Lights and Computers Just like the other appliances and equipment, both should be turned off when not in use. You could save as much as 40 percent if you tend to make this a habit. Such can lead to big savings that could be allocated to other necessary expenses. Light should be switched off when natural light is enough to illuminate the store, the room or the office. Use of proper lighting is really necessary. If you can afford sensor room-lighting controls, it is wise to install your rooms with these controls. You may also invest in energy-efficient bulbs and lights. They may be quite expensive but they will certainly save you a lot of money in the long run.

On the other hand, computer/s must be turned off after each use or you may just put it in standby mode if you do not want to shut it down.

Purchase of Innovative Products Use a power strip as a central "turn off" point when you are done using office equipment to completely disconnect the power supply. Even when turned off, electronic and IT equipment often use a small amount of electricity when plugged in. Since it is not practical to unplug every appliance whenever you're not using it, power strips can do the job for you. They essentially monitor electricity use in each plug and shut off the ones that have been idle for a period of time.

When shopping for appliances, you can think of two price tags. The first one covers the purchase price. Think of it as a down payment. The second price tag is the cost of operating the appliance during its lifetime. You'll be paying on that second price tag every month with your utility bill for the next 10 to 20 years, depending on the appliance. Refrigerators last an average of 20 years; room air conditioners and dishwashers, about 10 years each; clothes washers, about 14 years. Moreover, keep your appliances well maintained. They operate more efficiently and use less energy when in good working order. Maintaining them in good condition hit two things at the same time ? you save more energy and you prolong the lifespan and strengthen the durability of your domestic devices.

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