No matter how much – or little – you pay for electricity each month, you probably wouldn’t mind paying less. Yet, sitting in the dark at night or forbidding the use of anything that plugs in for hours at a time is hardly practical or enjoyable.

Instead, we’ve compiled a list of common sense electricity-saving tips you can use to start saving money fast.

• Arm yourself with info. When trying to cut back, it’s important to know which items in your home are energy hogs. The most common perpetrators are clothes washer and dryer, refrigerator, air conditioning, water heater, and lights. To keep tabs on things, invest in a smart plug that enables you to monitor energy consumption from a smartphone or tablet.

• Go off-peak. Some utility companies charge significantly less for electricity usage during off-peak hours. Check with yours and consider running the dishwasher, washer, and dryer at night.

• Set a schedule. Put suitable electronics like lamps, small appliances, window air conditioners, and TVs on inexpensive outlet timers so you needn’t worry about turning them on and off every day.

• Wash laundry in cold water. Save money by washing clothes on the cold setting and line-drying them. If you must machine dry, don’t over stuff the dryer as that slows down the drying process and jacks up the electricity cost.

• Eco-friendly dishwashing. Use the energy saver cycle for all but the dirtiest dish loads and only run the unit when the load is full. Use the air-dry cycle instead of heat-dry, or simply open the door when the wash is complete.

• Consider your roof color. If it’s time to update your roof, consider lighter colors. Research shows that lighter greys and browns attract less sun than dark colors, resulting in a reduced cost to cool your home.

• Check your insulation. No matter how energy-efficient your habits might become, all those savings go out the window and through the roof if your home’s insulation and weatherstripping are sub-par.

For added energy savings, contact Excel Electric, your local electrical contractor with ideas to spare. We can put your outdoor lights on one or more timers, for example. How about replacing regular switches with dimmers or installing a lighting control system. There are plenty of ways to save without sacrificing comfort or convenience.  Contact us today to learn more.