Use a front-loading washing machine if possible. Aside from the water savings — about half — you are also heating up about half as much water, which saves you on your hot water bills.
Get a Moisture-Sensing Dryer
If you are shopping for a new dryer, get one with a moisture sensor because it will not over-dry clothes and will be less likely than thermostat-equipped models to run too long. (Or of course you could use a clothesline!)
Tip: Turn Down Your Hot Water Heater
With very few exceptions, most hot water heaters should be kept at 120°F rather than the much more expensive 150°F. And when you go on vacation, turn the water heater down to its lowest setting.
Tip: Turn Off Printers Until Needed
Laser printers are energy hogs and still use about 100 watts per hour even when on stand-by mode. Unless you really need the speed and quality of a laser printer, stick with a high-end inkjet printer. The quality is almost as good and they use 1/5 as much energy as a laser printer. A printer that isn't on, however, doesn't use any energy at all. All too often we leave our equipment on against the possibility that we might need to use it ... some day.
Feburary 2008 Utility Bill
February was cold, with 478 heating degree days (HDD), which accounted for the bulk of our $346 utility bill. This was a slight improvement over January, of course. The cost of gas and electricity stayed pretty much the same and we didn't do any projects around the house, so there really isn't much else to report.February 2008 Data
Electricity, in kWh
Cost / Unit
Gas, in Therms
Cost / Unit
Water, in CCF
Cost / Unit
740
$.092
205
$1.30
5
$2.24
Tip: Take Showers, Not Baths
Take showers, not baths. A five-minute shower uses about 10 gallons of hot water; filling the bathtub uses about 20 gallons of hot water.
Tip: Add An Extra Blanket
If an extra blanket is not enough in winter, put an electric blanket on the bed. It does use electricity, but much less energy is used to heat your bed than it would take to heat your entire home. While you're at it, you can program your thermostat to turn itself down overnight while the electric blanket is keeping you warm.