Every fall we start to panic about the upcoming winter electricity bills.  Even though it is an almost inescapable fact that your electricity bill will increase this winter, there are steps you can take to make sure you keep as much of your money in your pocket as possible. 

Heating/Winter

The bulk of your electric bill comes from heating and cooling your house.  Before it gets too cold, there are a few things you'll want to check out:

*Have your furnace inspected by a professional heating technician to ensure that it is in proper working condition. 
*Clean your heating vents and ducts if accessible.
*If you have an attic, inspect the insulation.  If there are missing pieces, replace them. 
*Inspect the weather seals around windows and doors.  Replace or repair damaged seals.
*Consider placing plastic over windows and unused doors.  There are many kits that can be used inside and are easy to see through.  If you put your hand near the seals of a door of window and feel cold air from outside, you are losing heat. 
*Purchase and install a programmable thermostat.  Make sure it has Energy Star status, which ensures that it meets strict energy-saving guidelines.  This one purchase could save you 20-30% on your electric bill.
*Turn the heat way down at night.  Use lots of blankets and warm clothing.
*Use rugs on bare floors to keep your feet warm.  Cold feet make the rest of your body feel cold

Cooling

*Again, consider installing a programmable thermostat to control your central air conditioning.  Set at as low of temperature as possible (78 degrees F). 
*Consider turing off the air at night, or turing up the temperature.  Turn up the temperature when you are not going to be home for long periods of time.
*If you have central air, consider installing window units into rooms where you spend a lot of time.  Turn off the central air and use only the window unit if you will be spending a lot of time in a particular room.
*Close blinds and curtains during the day to prevent sunlight from heating up your house.
*Install ceiling fans.   Moving air can make a room feel up to 4 degrees cooler than it actually is. 

Lighting and Cooking

*Replace regular light bulbs with compact flourescent bulbs.  These bulbs cost a little more, but they last for years and use considerably less electricity. 
*Turn off any lights and appliances you are not using, including the computer.  A running computer uses as much energy as the equivalent of 3 light bulbs.
*Clean the coils on the back of your refridgerator twice a year.  You can do this with a vacuum.
*Keep your freezer full.  If you don't have enough food to fill the freezer, fill containers with water and freeze. 
*Instead of leaving your coffee pot on to keep your coffee warm throughout the day, consider putting the coffee in a thermos instead. 
*Use manual appliances when possible (can opener, toothbrushes, etc.).
*Use the microwave instead of the stove to heat up leftovers, vegetables, etc.
*Turn off the burner on the stove a few mintues before the food has finished cooking.  The burner will stay hot enough to finish cooking the food.
*Don't overcrowd your refidgerator.  A full fridge takes much more power to keep the food cool than a moderately full one.

Water Heating

*Purchase and install a jacket for your hot water heater.  These can be found at any home improvement store for $10-25. 
*Conserve water wherever possible. 
*Install aerating faucets and showerheads.  This will reduce the flow of water.
*Take showers instead of baths
*Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth.
*Do not use water to defrost frozen foods.  Put them in the refridgerator instead.
*Wash most clothing in cold water.  Do only full loads of laundry.
*Run the dishwasher only when it is full.

I hope this guide has been helpful!  Have a great day!