Have you ever heard of energy vampires? They are items in your home that suck your electricity even when they are turned off.
Most people realize that windows can greatly affect your heating and cooling costs. Even if you can't afford brand-new windows, you can make sure they are properly sealed for relatively little money.
Also, you can help by changing the direction of your fan. By putting it in reverse, it will push warm air down and help with heating.
Another tip is to set your thermostat to 68. That is the recommended setting for optimal savings. If there no kids or pets in the home, try 63. Smart thermostats can also help save money.
It's also a good idea to make sure your dishwasher is completely full before running it and to turn off lights whenever you leave the room.
Other tips include cooking several meals at a time and taking turns to hang drying clothes.
If you want to take it a step further, unplugging electronics can save over time. These devices that continue to suck electricity even when turned off are called energy vampires. They include TVs, computers, DVRs, video game systems, printers, kitchen appliance like coffee makers, and phone chargers.
Leaving a coffee maker plugged in cost $3 to $4 per year when not in use.
A laptop that is plugged in can cost anywhere from 4 cents to $15 a year.
It may not seem like much money, but typical families have 50 devices and appliances that are always plugged in and drawing power. That can add up to $200 a year.
