RealEstate Investing:Really Easy Ways to Cut Back Home Energy Costs in Connecticut

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Last week, I co-hosted a seminar about ways to cut back your household budget.

While each speaker offered many great ideas, I learned the most from Ermelinda Flynn, a Rate Specialist at the State of CT Department of Public Utility Control who discussed some easy ways to cut back on your home energy costs.  Here are some of the highlights from Ermelinda’s material that I wanted to share:

Switch Your Light bulbs

We all know this one - that incandescent light bulbs are not the most energy efficient. However, I didn’t realize just how much.  Replacing a 75 watt incandescent light bulb with a 25 watt compact fluorescent bulb can save about 0/bulb over the lifetime of that bulb.

Furthermore, they do make CFLs that aren’t ugly for use in pendant lights, chandeliers and bathroom vanities.  Although not as bright as the spiral CFLs, they are still a more cost effective alternative to incandescent bulbs.

Do Your Laundry More Efficiently

Use a clothesline in the summer (up to in savings/year). Clean out the dryer’s lint filter after every load and clean out the dryer vent periodically.  Dry two or more loads in a row. Fold or hang your laundry immediately after drying to cut back on ironing.

Replace Older Refrigerator

Refrigerators sold today with an Energy Star label use 40% less energy than most models sold in 2001.   You can save as much as 0/year by buying a newer model.  You can also: clean the condenser coils under the refrigerator, don’t cover steel racks inside with foil, make sure your refrigerator is level and has several inches of space behind it and around it. Toss out any second refrigerator or unplug it for any part of the year you’re not using it (garage or basement refrigerators).

Unplug

In the average home, 75% of electricity used for home electronics is consumed while they are unplugged. Battery chargers and AC adapters should be unplugged when not in use or put on a power strip and turned off. Turn off computer monitors and printers or put them in sleep/energy saving mode.

Enroll in Variable Peak Pricing Program

Did you know that CL&P has a program that all allows you to pay a different rate for your electricity based on when you use it?  If you can shift the bulk of your electricity usage to off-peak hours, then you may be able to enroll in this program only available through CL&P.

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