How To Cut Your Electricity Bill

These are simple ‘common sense’ tips that work.  They work so well that I can tell you the Jamaica Public Service Company came to my house to see if I was ‘stealing’ electricity or had interfered with the meter.   I proudly informed them of my tricks.

No Iron

I Iron nothing.  When I wash something I hang it up wet and smooth it.  While it is drying, I smooth it, I snap the seams, the collars the cuffs.  I will hang up a shirt by the collar, well slipped.  I will clip the cuffs.

That item will dry ‘stiff’ with everything perfect.

Unplug

I unplug the refrigerator, the television, everything at night.  In the morning I defrost the fridge, plug it in, and often unplug it an hour later.  The television is never plugged in until I want to watch it.

Fridges and televisions, (as other products) suck electricity even when off.  Look at your microwave, see the digital timer?  That means although it is off, it is sucking electricity.  Unplug it.

Break yourself into the unplug habit.

Charger = Night Lite

At night, use your cell phone charger as a night light.  You should know your home well enough to find the bathroom without a map.  You don’t need to put on the light.  Use the charger as a night light.  In this way you have enough light to know where you are, but not enough to raise your bill, as turning on the light will do.

Floor Air Conditioner

Hot Air rises.  So why do you have an air conditioner in your window or at the top of a room?  Get one that is on the floor.  The cool air will push up the hot air, so just turning it on for a few minutes will be as effective as running one at top gear for an hour.

And try to use air con and fans as infrequently as possible.   Open windows, use screens to keep out bugs, and get used to warmth.  Try to keep off your fans and air-con until the temperature is above 85o F.

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Natural Light

Use Natural light as much as possible.  You don’t have to put on your lamp if you are sitting near a window.  You don’t need to turn on lights with natural lighting.

You may think these tips will save you a few cents.  If you check with your Electric Company, you will find how much money one fridge for one month costs.  Now, unplugging that fridge every day will cut that bill in half.