How To Save Energy (Without Feeling Like You’re Living in the Dark Ages)

[SS Project Manager]

Ever notice how your electricity bill seems to sneak up on you like a ninja every month? One minute you’re flipping on a few lights, running the washer, maybe leaving your phone charger plugged in “just in case”… and the next thing you know, you’re wondering how your house became an energy-sucking machine.

Saving energy isn’t just about cutting costs, though that part is pretty great. It’s also about being smarter with what we already have. Think of it like giving your home a little tune-up so it runs more efficiently, the same way you might take care of a car or sharpen a garden tool. Little changes can really add up.

So let’s talk real life. Do you unplug appliances when you’re not using them? Have you swapped out those old lightbulbs for LEDs? Maybe you’ve mastered the art of hanging clothes to dry instead of using the dryer, or you’ve figured out how to keep your home cool in summer without running the air conditioner all day.

What’s your secret? What little energy-saving habits have actually worked for you? Share your best tips and tricks—no fancy gadgets or expensive upgrades required. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the ones that make the biggest difference.

 

[flowerbug]

if your power company provides an hourly energy usage report pull it up once in a while and check to see if it has changed much.

when i've had issues with the well pump running too often this has helped me compare "before" and "after" to see when the change has happened.

also they usually have month to month and month to last year same month comparisons.

some power companies can also set up alerts to let you know if your power usage has changed.

one thing to notice is to see in the middle of the night when things are usually not running what your lowest power draw can get down to. for us that is about 70 watts for the entire house (and i could clip off another 13 if i completely unplugged all the computer accessories that are plugged in like the radio network antenna and the speaker subwoofer).

 

[Hinotori]

We're about as efficient as we can be. I use the air fryer for baking a lot now because it uses less power overall and doesn't heat a house as much in summer. LED bulbs in everything except the utility room which has an ancient florescent light. The LEDs last about 5-6 years in the lamps. We rarely use the overhead light so it's over a decade. One of the 3 bulbs in the kitchen has been there 15 years. The other two were changed once.

I hand wash dishes which actually uses less power for us. I've been air drying all the clothes. Have a nice japanese rack that you clip undergarments on. Then I just hang it off the shower. Wash at night, dry by morning or noon at the latest on most things.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

When my bill went over $300 I decided to ight back.

I'm hanging clothes this time of year. We had two extra refrigerators in the breezeway. One full sized and one dorm size that just held water and or other beverages. I unplugged that one and condensed everything into the other one. AC thermostat has been raised to 76. With fans it's ok. LED lights here too. Just common sense, easy to do changes.

Those changes have dropped the bill over $40. The changes haven't been hard, and they made enough of a difference that I'll keep 'em up.