Save money on your electric bill: pay yourself to help the planet

Saving money on the electric bill is a concern I hear about everywhere I go. I've picked up a several tips, over time, that I'm happy to share with anyone who's interested. Let me just take a moment, however, to stress that the U.S. actually has extremely inexpensive electricity, due in large part to our dependence on fossil fuels, namely coal. Almost half of U.S. electricity comes from burning coal. As of December, the national average per kilowatt hour was about eleven cents. Of course, that rate doesn't account for the true price of cheap power: direct harm to the natural world,production of smog, and emission of climate-change contributing CO2, among others.

Using electricity costs you money, and it also has a hidden cost to the human race, as well as the planet. Ergo, cutting down on your power consumption has an inversely positive impact and represents the first step toward a more energy-efficient tomorrow. In the old phrase, "reduce, reuse, recycle," the word reduce comes first for a reason. Having said that, conserving energy also saves you money; you can literally pay yourself to help the planet.

Ideas:

1. Power strips: Most people don't know this, but many appliances draw power while they are powered down. Plug stereos, computers,

2. Eat raw food: Chances are, your electric range ovens use more electricity than all the light bulbs in your apartment or house. Any excuse to eat raw food means you're not just feeding your body an extremely healthy energy source; you're also saving money on electricity. For some cool recipe ideas, check out this cool blog.

3. Ease off the chilling action on your fridge: Refrigerators use an insane amount of electricity. Just turn the dial slightly so your fridge is slightly less cool. Monitor food to make sure it's not so warm as to cause spoilage.

4. (or) Keep your fridge or freezer in your basement: This one's not for everybody. You have to be pretty committed to the environment, and have a basement, to consider schlepping down a flight of stairs to get dinner. However, the potential of this modification to save you money should speak to anyone with an intuitive mind. In the winter, we pay to fill a room with heat and, in that room, we pay to keep a small box cold. Meanwhile, year round, your basement's resting temp is about 50-55 degrees. To go even further, check out these articles on the benefits of a root cellar and how to install one.

5. Toilet: If your utility bill is affected by water usage, a fast way to save is to place a brick (yup, a brick) in the upper deck of your toilet. This technique will affect the fill level of the toilet, using less water with each flush.

6. More transformational options: If you've tried these low impact options with mixed results, you may want to consider replacing appliances with more energy-efficient versions, or pursuing other large-scale household upgrades. Try this article for some more ideas.