| Always a big cost each month here are a few ways | | | | Light bulbs are small but there are so many of them |
| to lessen what you pay for electricity. Sure, you've | | | | in the house that using efficient ones will make a |
| probably heard some of them before today, but | | | | difference. They cost a little more but you'll make up |
| maybe those winter heating bills make doing | | | | that cost in electricity savings. Another thing to |
| something about it more urgent. And the summer air | | | | consider are the light fittings themselves. One house I |
| conditioning costs are just around the corner. | | | | lived in had ceiling lights with three light bulbs fitted. |
| Electricity is a great mystery to many of us. You turn | | | | Not only did the light spread in strange directions |
| a switch - and the light comes on, or an appliance | | | | instead of where it would be useful, but it was also |
| starts to work. It's amazing, and so convenient. And | | | | three times the cost to run! |
| therefore it's easy to take for granted, especially | | | | 5. Insulate. Big savings can be made here. Check the |
| when there is a gap in time between using the | | | | hot water cylinder, the ceiling cavity, and underneath |
| electricity and paying for it. It sort of feels free - until | | | | the house. Once the initial cost is over, the rewards |
| the bill arrives. | | | | in comfort and better health make it worthwhile. A |
| It's a great idea to involve everyone in your | | | | hot water cylinder that is not insulated loses a lot of |
| household in The Great Electricity Diet. Begin by | | | | heat and adds so much cost to the bill. The small |
| finding out about electricity generation in your area. | | | | price of insulating it will soon be rewarded. (Or you |
| Where does your electricity come from? How does it | | | | could install a hot water on demand system. Keeping |
| get to your home? How are the delivery and kilowatt | | | | a tank of water hot does take a lot of electricity, |
| unit costs calculated? | | | | even when insulated.) Above and below the house |
| Start today with Suggestion #1. Make a commitment | | | | are big areas to insulate but the cost will be |
| and see what a difference you can make. They say | | | | recouped and in the end, capital value has been |
| that a month of doing something and it becomes a | | | | added to your home. |
| habit. Good luck! | | | | 6. Reduce the number of your appliances and time in |
| 1. Start with a household audit of your electricity | | | | using them. Have a look at all the electrical appliances |
| usage. Get out recent electricity bills and have a look | | | | in your home. How many appliances do you really |
| at how many units you usually use. Chart the figures | | | | need? Which ones could you cut back on using? So |
| to see if there are seasonal patterns. Have a look at | | | | much leisure time is spent in front of something that |
| the wheel turning in the meter box as electricity is | | | | is plugged into the wall. If everyone is committed to |
| consumed, if you have that type of meter. It's | | | | the idea, a night without television and computers, |
| surprising how fast it moves! Take a note of the | | | | and instead going for a walk or playing a board game |
| reading at the same time each day and make a chart | | | | together can contribute to the power cut-down, as |
| or graph of daily kilowatts used. Do this for a week | | | | well as being a lot of fun. Try it at least once this |
| while continuing what you normally do. It's good to | | | | month. |
| have this chart as a comparison for when you start | | | | Open the cupboards. If there are small appliances you |
| to make changes. | | | | haven't used for some time, give them away, or sell |
| You may get all fired up to start immediately but | | | | them to someone who might use them. Make sure |
| wait until the first audit week is over. Put the start | | | | the money goes towards the electricity bill. |
| date in the calendar and make sure everyone knows. | | | | At the end of the month look at the chart you've |
| 2. Turn it off if it's not in use. This rule alone will make | | | | recorded of the daily meter readings and see if |
| a big difference. It's so easy to just leave appliances | | | | you've been able to make a difference. Congratulate |
| on even if we only use them for a short time each | | | | yourselves. But keep going. Find other ways to save. |
| day. Microwaves use electricity even if they're not in | | | | You may even be ready to consider generating your |
| use, just by being plugged in and turned on at the | | | | own electricity. Which brings us to the final |
| wall. The same for kettles and toasters. Then there's | | | | suggestion. |
| also the television sets and computers. Yes, it's a | | | | 7. Install solar panels on the roof. Imagine that instead |
| hassle to turn them off at the wall, but think of the | | | | of reducing your electricity bill, you were able to |
| dollars saved. Appoint someone to be the | | | | almost totally annihilate it! Tiny, little electricity bills. Or |
| Switch-it-Off-Inspector to do the rounds each | | | | even gone! And then maybe even sell your surplus |
| evening - and rotate the job each week. | | | | summer electricity back to the companies you used |
| 3. Seal any gaps. Cold air can get into the house | | | | to buy from! And all while making use of a powerful |
| through very small gaps so make sure that they are | | | | energy source that is available to all of us free - the |
| found and sealed. Check around the doors and | | | | sun. Photovoltaic cells convert light energy into |
| windows. Hardware stores sell tape of various sizes | | | | electricity, available for use in your home. Installing |
| and thickness for a small price that will stick to | | | | solar panels used to be out of the reach financially |
| window frames so windows close firmly without | | | | for most people, but the technology has improved |
| space for cold air to get in. Check the sealing on the | | | | and costs have fallen to the extent that it's really |
| fridge doors. If cold air is escaping the fridge will have | | | | worth doing. If you're ready for a summer project, |
| to work harder and so use more electricity. | | | | there's more information on my website. |
| 4. Change your light bulbs - and even light fittings. | | | | |