Top Ways To Save Electricity From Leading Sources

1 - Use the cold-water wash cycle for your washing machine and save about $60 a year.

2 - Put your personal computer to sleep or shut it down. Save from $25 to $75 each year by using the system standby or hibernating feature on your personal computer.

3 - Plug your electronics into a power strip so that you can easily turn them all off at once.

4 - Skip pre rinsing dishes. Tests have discovered that it is not necessary, and you can save up to 6,500 gallons of water per year.

5 - Keep the tires on your car properly inflated. In tests of a Toyota Camry, fuel efficiency dropped almost 1.5 mpg when the tires were deflated by 10 psi.

6 - Open shades and blinds on cold days. Solar heat gain from the sun can raise interior temperature significantly. But be sure to close them at night to minimize heat loss.

7 - Install a high-efficiency shower head. It will lower hot water use by up to 50 percent.

8 - See if your utility company offers rebates to customers who decide replace old appliances with energy-efficient models that will save significant electricity. Some states hold periodic energy star tax holidays for purchases of energy-efficient appliances.

9 - String up LED lights this holiday season. These lights last much longer. Tests have shown that they can save up to $15 per year.

10 - Upgrade to a low-flow toilet and save 4,000 gallons per year.

11 - Seal and insulate gaps and cracks in your ducts is a great way to save electricity and energy. That can help reduce energy costs by 30 percent and save on your bills.

12 - Lower the hot water-heater temperature to 120 degrees from 130. Insulate your hot-water pipes to lower your energy bills by up to 5 percent.

13 - Weather-strip old doors and windows to save electricity and heat. It is the easiest, surest way to close the gaps around openings, and lower cooling and heating costs by 15 to 30 percent.

14 - Add insulation. Over 80 percent of older homes are not properly insulated. Properly sealing and insulating your house can lower your heating and cooling bills by over 10 percent.