Energy saving
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Warm the bed using an electric pad before climbing in, then switch it off or lower the setting.
After the bedding is warmed up, you can stay warm without needing to run the heater constantly.
- One person preheats for ten minutes while making tea.
- One person turns it on 30 minutes before bedtime and turns it off immediately upon entering the bed.
3 people, independently
Install 3M or Duck brand shrink-wrap window insulation kits to stop drafts.
These kits lock in heat and are cited as having high return on investment.
- They can be fussy to apply and require proper frame preparation.
one person who lived it
Use a heated mattress pad instead of an electric blanket to keep heat fixed in place and prevent bunching.
Heat rises, making the pad more efficient as it warms you through captured blankets above.
3 people, independently
Buy new, sealed smart thermostats like Nest on eBay for a discount.
They can be found for less than retail price.
one person who lived it
Install weather stripping around old window frames to stop air leaks.
One person reported this was one of their best investments.
one person who lived it
heat, power, warm, heating34
Plug electronics into surge protection strips with switches for complete surge protection and easy power control.
Ask your utility company if they will provide a free consult to determine why your winter bill is high.
There is a chance they might do it for free.
one person who lived it
Source winter clothes from local 'Buy Nothing' groups and throw blankets from thrift stores.
These sources provide free or cheap items as people discard them.
- Inspect used rugs closely for bedbugs and eggs.
one person who lived it
Turn on an electric blanket or heating pad for 30 minutes before bed to warm it up, then turn it off.
This minimizes the fire hazard.
one person who lived it
Buy space heaters between February and May to take advantage of significant end-of-season discounts.
Retailers clear out last season's stock during these months.
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Layer quilts or spare clothes on top of your bedding to trap heat and increase comfort.
Layers hold more heat in, potentially allowing for lower heater settings.
- One person woke up too warm after adding a quilt over an electric blanket even on the lowest setting.
one person who lived it
Put microwaves on a switch to cut power when not in use.
Microwaves can consume significant electricity (e.g., $25 a year) just running clocks and monitoring button pads while idle.
one person who lived it
Run a dehumidifier to generate waste heat.
The device pumps out warm air.
- It consumes electricity, increasing electrical costs.
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Use a portable AC unit to cool specific areas instead of relying on central air conditioning.
One person reported dropping their summer electricity bill from $297 to $130 after switching.
- This is based on one person's experience with an AC set at 71F.
one person who lived it
Use an insulated sleeping bag to stay warm at night.
It makes a huge difference in cold conditions.
one person who lived it
Set your thermostat to 16°C or 17°C and wear warm clothing to reduce heating costs.
Lowering the thermostat saves money.
one person who lived it
Add one-way mirror type window tint to reflect heat.
This type reflects the most heat.
one person who lived it
Nail a blanket over a doorway leading to a cold room to act as a barrier against heat loss.
It prevents the adjacent space from acting as a heat sink.
one person who lived it
If permitted by your landlord or building rules, layer blue foam board over exterior walls to reduce heat loss.
One person reported that this method saved on heating costs.
one person who lived it
Leave standard toasters plugged in unless you have concerns about fire or unintended operation.
They have zero standby power usage.
- Unless the toaster has unusual features like singing or dancing.
one person who lived it
Stick one leg out from under the covers to regulate body heat and avoid overheating.
It helps with heat regulation.
one person who lived it
Check real-time smart meter data to identify hidden power drains that may cause bill spikes.
Real-time usage reveals if something is drawing power when it shouldn't be, or if previous bills were estimates.
one person who lived it
Get rid of digital picture frames if you tend to unplug them.
You likely won't remember to plug them back in, leaving them dead and useless.
one person who lived it
Check your electricity provider's rates to see if heating during off-peak night hours is cheaper than peak hours.
Most providers charge less for electricity during the night.
one person who lived it
Ensure a canopy bed has a cover to retain heat inside the bed area.
Without a cover, heat escapes out the top.
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Schedule mosquito repellents to run only during peak times like sunrise and sunset using timers or smart plugs.
This extends the lifespan of the repellent.
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Use spray foam to seal gaps in walls or skirting to prevent air leaks.
one person who lived it
Avoid unplugging modern electronics after every use, as the standby power draw is negligible compared to the wear and tear on cords.
Most idle devices draw very little current, making the effort not worth the physical stress on the equipment.
one person who lived it
Install insulated curtains to help regulate indoor temperature year-round by reducing heat loss through windows.
They act as another layer of insulation, slowing down cold air leaking through cracks.
one person who lived it
Check your utility app for hourly usage data.
You can literally see the drop in consumption.
one person who lived it
Connect devices to a switched power strip or surge protector to turn off multiple items with one flick instead of unplugging individual cords.
This kills all power to the connected devices while keeping them protected.
2 people, independently
- Plug electronics into surge protection strips with switches for complete surge protection and easy power control.3
If you have high ceilings that do not retain heat well, use a heated throw blanket on the couch to keep warm.
one person who lived it
- Place a single-size heated blanket under your sofa cover to make the seating area cozy.1
Install a programmable thermostat.
It reduces power consumption and may qualify for utility rebates.
2 people, independently
Use flannel sheets or flannel-lined clothing to retain body heat without using electricity.
Flannel is soft and retains heat wonderfully, sometimes causing sweating even in cold conditions.
one person who lived it
Focus on insulation and efficient HVAC systems like heat pumps over managing small appliances.
Neglecting major upgrades like insulation dramatically increases energy consumption at the point of use.
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Use a space heater equipped with a thermostat to automatically disengage the heating element once the desired temperature is reached, which saves power compared to continuous operation.
Thermostats save power by disengaging at the set point.
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Turn off unused electronics completely instead of leaving them on standby, and run dehumidifiers only during warmer months.
Humidity doesn't get high enough in winter to need it.
one person who lived it
Consider using an air-based bed warming system like a BedJet liner, as one user reported it works better than traditional blankets.
- Based on one friend's experience.
one person who lived it
bulbs, leds, led, incandescent12
Select light bulbs based on lumens for brightness rather than watts for power consumption.
Clean glass and lamp posts with soap and water to refresh their appearance.
It can make old fixtures look like they were installed recently.
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Consider that switching from CFLs to LEDs may be a difficult decision due to higher upfront costs for similar light output.
LEDs often cost 5-10 times more than CFLs while providing close equivalent lumens.
- The decision is tougher when moving from 15W CFL to 7W LED.
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Choose LED bulbs over CFLs for dimmable lighting applications.
LEDs work more like traditional bulbs; CFLs may step down unevenly, buzz at low settings, or flicker without specific trailing-edge dimmers.
- Dimmable LEDs may require a specific dimmer (trailing edge) to avoid flickering.
one person who lived it
Install LEDs in areas with high cooling expenses, since they produce less warmth than incandescent bulbs.
All used electricity becomes heat; reducing electrical wattage lowers the thermal burden on air conditioning systems.
3 people, independently
- Replace incandescent bulbs with LEDs in areas where lights are frequently on and previously generated significant heat.1
- Replace any remaining incandescent bulbs with LEDs to stop wasting energy and adding unnecessary heat load to your cooling systems.1
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Verify that LED bulbs are dimmable before purchasing if you intend to use them with dimmer switches.
Not all LED bulbs are dimmable.
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Understand that energy savings from LED bulbs come from reduced amperage, not voltage.
Voltage remains constant at 120V.
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Consider the presence of mercury and toxic chemicals in CFLs when comparing them to LEDs.
CFLs contain mercury and toxic chemicals if dropped.
2 people, independently
Avoid buying the cheapest LED bulbs or unverified brands, as they may be counterfeits or have defective heat sink designs leading to premature burnout.
Poor manufacturing or counterfeit parts cause early failure.
- Not all Cree LEDs are genuine.
one person who lived it
Select light bulbs based on lumens for brightness rather than watts for power consumption.
4 people, independently
Check recall lists for fire extinguishers and other safety equipment, even if recently purchased.
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coils, buy11
Buy smaller quantities of perishables if you will not use the bulk size before it spoils.
If less than half a gallon of milk is used before it goes bad, the half-gallon is the better deal despite the higher cost per ounce.
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Replace old refrigerators with new Energy Star models if the old unit is causing high monthly electricity costs.
The savings from a new model can pay for itself within a year.
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Buy frost-free freezers to avoid the need for manual defrosting.
It is more frugal to research and buy a frost-free model upfront.
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Buy an inexpensive brush from a home improvement store to clean refrigerator coils instead of moving the appliance.
Well worth it.
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Save twist ties, bread clips, corks, and squeezy packs for potential future uses.
Recent shortages might make ketchup and soy sauce packs handy.
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Pass down clothing through family members to extend garment life.
Clothing was expensive.
one person who lived it
Use a thermometer to verify fridge and freezer temperatures are in the best range.
If it is too cold, you are wasting money.
one person who lived it
Service your fridge if it requires periodic defrosting due to internal icing.
This indicates a part failure and is not normal.
one person who lived it
Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances like fridges rather than focusing on trivial savings.
Appliances account for the majority of electric bills, so upgrading them yields greater savings.
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Ensure proper air circulation around refrigerators by not building them in too tightly.
Lack of room for air circulation causes similar issues to dirty coils.
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Clean dust and debris from refrigerator coils regularly to maintain efficiency and prevent compressor strain.
Dust prevents heat dissipation, causing the compressor to struggle, especially in summer.
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