Reduce Your Utility Use With These 12 Tips

 I know we all try to be green here in California because it pays, but there may be some little things adding up on the sly that you can integrate into your days to make a small dent in your bills.

For those of you just starting out on your savings journey, I've linked some great Pins of the "basics," which you should definitely take a gander at along with my tips.

 10 Ways To Save On Utilities
Recyclebank's Green Winter Tips
Summer Saving Tips

1. "Vampire" Waste - Power strips. You know what I mean.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Fridge/Freezer Settings - Most standard settings are super low, check with a thermometer and adjust your settings accordingly to reduce how much your appliances run.   
3. Fridge/Freezer Use - Keep them full to help maintain temperatures, and keep a running list pinned to the door, so you already know what's in there (and what you need) before opening it. 
4. Water Heater - It should not be higher than 120. Also, who really uses the hot water in bathroom sinks? Climb down there and turn off that access!
5. Air Conditioner - You already know, don't give me that look.
6. Heating - We set it at 65, and bundle up or use a space heater in the room we are in.
7. Showers - I know it feels good, but try to get done faster. Multi-tasking is a good way to go, like shaving while your conditioner soaks in, or soaping up your body when you shampoo and rinse it all off at once. Of course the best method is team showers, if you know what I mean.
   
   
   
   
8. Laundry - You already do full loads and cold water, but what about air drying? Even if you have no room for clotheslines, indoor drying racks have become incredibly affordable, and are great for speedy drying of smaller items like undergarments and shirts. I don't expect you to wait all day for your jeans to dry, but air drying those other items will free up your dryer to do one cycle instead of five, and if you throw in a bone-dry towel with the load, they will dry even faster! For those without moisture sensors, run your dryer for 30 minutes and stop before the cool down, then hang your items to finish drying by air, using the residual heat to your advantage.
9. Dishes - You don't need to steam dry your dishes unless you're cooking meth or smallpox. Crack your machine open and let those babies air dry!
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10. Gardens - Make sure your timed system is watering plants,
    and not walkways. Sidewalks don't grow.
11. Outdoor Lighting - Solar, motion, or timer lights should be it; no one's admiring the garden at 3AM.
12. Lights - If you have a window in your bathroom, you don't need the lights on (excluding makeup applications) - that means slightly darker showers and potty breaks, but I guarantee you will adjust. Can you use a task light instead of lighting the whole room? Using one bulb is definitely a better choice than the two to four in most ceiling fixtures. In general, you need to look at the room and task you're doing, and ask yourself if you really need lights on to accomplish it effectively. For some, having a well lit house is just mandatory, and that's okay, this tip is not for you. 

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