How are you dealing with utilities cost going up? Any tips on saving?

A couple of things to help here. One turn down the temperature on your water heater so it's not as hot. With your fridge/freeze turn the temperature up so it's not as cold. Same with the thermastat. In the winter turn it down (colder) and in the summer up (warmer). Even a couple of degrees with all these can add up to some savings. Check all appliances for any that are very old and replace them if you can afford to for more energy efficient models. Turn off computer monitors and tv's when they are not in use. Turn off all lights that are not in use, especially lights outside for at night. Laving them on all the time can run up the bill quick. Switch light bulbs out for either lower wattage ones or for ones that are more energy efficienct. Those can all make a big difference for the electric bill. Believe me I do know. Last summer our electric bill rose really high and we had to figure out ways to cut and cut quick.

I put those neon light bulbs in where ever I can 26 watts for 100 watt power. Our cetral air and heat makes ours go sky high I can hardly wait till it gets warm enough to open doors for about a mont then we get a lower bill this happens in the spring and the fall we get 2 cheap bills a year lol

turn your heating down a degree or 2 you'll hardly notice. turn of unneeded lights and appliances - did you know that just switching plugs off at the wall still allows up to 5% electricity wastage. Do you washing on a cooler wash and wait until you have a full load, but do not overfill,it will be just as clean. If it is nice try to hang your washing outside, or place over radiatiors to dry if possible rather than use the tumbler. Don't leave TV's etc playing when no-one is in the room. Only heat your hot water when you need it. My electric is cheaper at night so I do the washing, dishwasher, water heating etc on timers, even my breadmaker uses nightime electric os I wake up to the smell of fresh bread, I hope this helps, you just have to be careful, buy energy saving bulbs, wear a cardigan. Good luck I hope you bill is not too bad.

You can burn tea candles, about 5 per one room. It really works. Get warmer and you have light at the same time. Do it for 3 hours at night. Huge savings.

You must know that PC also consumes energy more then 300 Watts. If You have CRT screen than Your PC consume 500 Watts or a little bit more. If Your PC works 10 hours per day thats 5 kW. It's same like You heat Your room for 2.5 hours with 2kW electricity heater.Also when You shut down PC it also consume some Watts. So if Your Power Unit on PC has switch then turn it off after You shut down it.

IN the winter I cook and bake more, this saves money from eating out and warms the kitchen, dining room and living room. I wear long underwear and keep the house around 60 (that is the high in winter). I got some microfleece pajamas for Christmas, they are great- feel warm even when inside temp is down to low 50's, of course I also wear the long underwear. Right now I am wearing 2 sweatshirts. I eat a lot of soups and always have some ready to heat up to warm me up. Look for clearance at cabela's on silk lomg underwear - nice and warm with no additional bulk.

We just try to not use alot of electricity and if you are not using the light, just turn it off. So far that is just working great for us.

Yes, you have started one usefull discussion here and as far as i think , by reducing usage of electric power you can save a lot.Like, reduction in A.C usage and you can also install solar water heaters which will reduce lots of power saving and also money will be saved too much here.Nice to read out comments from all mylotians.

I know this isn't an elsctricity savings, but do you have a programmable thermostat? They are very nice, you can program them to lower your heater settings when you are gone and at night we you do not need it as warm as you do during the day. They are really easy to install and they can save you a bundle. The energy efficant ligths are a good way to go. They last longer and use less energy. The lighting is a little different, but you will get used to it quick.

I would run only full loads in the dishwasher and dont run more water then you really need. Keep all lights off when not in use. Make sur you have sealed up arround with weather cauking and srips.. I like double insulated windows they help. It is also good to have your units serviced because when they are too high something could be wrong. I would also call the company if you feel its really too high and ask them about it.

Well it is hard to give you some additional tips to these you already received but here are some that i hope will help you: - Switching light on and then off and coming back in 10 minutes and doing it once again consumes more energy then to leave the light on for 10 muinutes! - Using screen savers on you screen - Switching off this little red light on the TV etc. - Using one light at a time :) All this should help you to achieve lover bills

It only keeps on going up and up here in the Philippines. To cut down on costs, I unplug everything at night that are not in use. I used to keep some lights open, now I just turn them all of at night. We also would have the tv on most of the time, when I see that no one's watching, I turn it off. Good thing it's cold the past months we don't need to use the air conditioner.

I use energy saver bulbs and wear socks and sweaters in winter all the time. It's really hard here without heater I live up north but we try our best and able to keep the heater bills low. we are also dilligent turning off lights and machines we don't use.

we are paying very much here in Italy, too...gas is the most expensive...I try to pay attention to some things..I'm always swithcing off the light when I leave the room, I don't have the tap open while I use my toothbrush, I choose those lamps that lasts year and use less energy, I have showers more than baths...these are only simple things but i think they help me save a bit of money and help me help the world!!! I mean ...I don't like wasting energy because I like doing my best for nature and our environment. I've read some good tips here and i'll try to do something more

well here a couple of things you can do, but i am sure you heard of them alreday, first during the day, put the heat all the way down to 60 i know it is kinda of cold, and at night put it up to 68 or so, get a space heater too it wont cost that much to run it. close all the doors and windows and winterize there is stuff you can buy from store. check the insulation in your house , make sure they are good if you can. put up lower watt bulds, that is all i can think of right now.

I know what you mean about utility bills going way up. I have a few suggestions. Use a programmable thermostat. Also I have a humidifier on my furnace. I have ceiling fans in every room and they run 24/7 to circulate the air. I also open up all the blinds to let in the sun to try to heat up the house. It does seem to work to keep the cost somewhat reasonable.