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It’s important to save electricity because electric companies often produce electricity by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. The burning of fossil fuels contributes to global warming and pollutes the air.

 
Energy Saving Tips to Use Throughout the Year to help Reduce Electricity costs :

1.   Be sure to turn off lights when you leave a room.
2.   Turn off machines when you leave a room (examples include TV’s, computers, radios, stereos, video games, VCR’s, and DVD players).
3.   When you go away on a trip, be sure to unplug these same machines because they have stand-by functions that consume  electricity even when they are turned off.
4.   Fill your dishwasher efficiently and limit the number of times you run it.
5.   Don’t put furniture and other things in front of heating and air conditioning vents.
6.   Keep doors and windows closed when heat or air conditioning is on.
7.   Put in a programmable thermostat which will keep your house at the right temperature day and night.  Programmable thermostats can reduce cooling and heating bills up to 10% because they lower the heat or raise the air conditioning when you are not at home.
8.   Check how much electricity your water heater uses. If it uses more than other models of water heaters, replace it with a more efficient one.
9.   Put insulation around the pipes going in and out of your water heater.  If you have an older water heater, put an insulated blanket around it.
10.   If you will be out of town for more than a couple days, turn off your water heater.
11.   About once a year, drain one gallon of water from the faucet at the bottom of your water heater.  This gets rid of the sediment in the water which reduces the energy efficiency of your water heater.
12.   Change your furnace filter at least once a year or even more.  Filters get clogged up with dust and dirt that circulate in a house. This means that air has a more difficult time passing through the filter, and then your furnace has to work a lot harder in order to heat the house.
13.   Take a look at the insulation in your attic.  Heat rises, which means that warm air rises into your attic. If you don’t have good enough insulation, heat will be wasted.  Insulation should be 6 inches to 1 foot thick.
14.   Close doors and vents in rooms you are not using.
15.   Hold a ribbon or feather up to windows and doors to see if there are any drafts.  If there are, put in weather stripping or caulking to keep the outside air out and to keep the air conditioning or heating in.
16.   Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth and take shorter showers.  This will not only save water, but it will also save the electricity that it takes to pump and heat the water. 
17.   Make use of daylight hours and do not turn on lights and lamps.
18.   Use one large light bulb instead of a few small ones.  One 100-watt light bulb uses less energy and gives off more light than two 60-watt bulbs.
19.   Use fluorescent light bulbs because they use 75% less energy and last longer than incandescent light bulbs.
20.   Use light bulbs that are low in wattage in areas of your house where you don’t need bright light.
21.   Make sure that outdoor lighting is turned off during the day.  Use motion-detectors lights or timer switches.
22.   Decide what you want from the refrigerator or freezer before you open them so you don’t waste electricity by standing there looking inside and keeping the door open.
23.   Vacuum the coils of your refrigerator every few months in order to lower your energy bill and to keep the condenser working better.
24.   Before putting hot foods into the refrigerator, cool them to room temperature (unless the recipe tells you not to do this).
25.   Cook several food dishes in the oven at the same time.
26.   Keep the oven door closed until the food is done cooking.
27.   Defrost food before you bake or microwave it.  This uses 1/3 less energy than if you baked food that was still frozen.
28.   Wash full loads of clothing instead of smaller ones.  Use the coolest water possible for washing and rinsing the clothes.
29.   Clean the lint filter of your dryer after every load.
30.   Dry full loads of clothes.
31.   Dry one load right after another because this uses less energy since the dryer is already hot.
32.   Be sure to stop the dryer as soon as the clothes are dry.

Summer Tips:

Keep your blinds, drapes or shades closed during the day.

Use ceiling fans or windows fans instead of air conditioning.  Ceiling and window fans use much less electricity.

Only use air conditioning when it is really hot outside.

Turn off your air conditioning if you will be gone from home for a long time.

Clean or replace your air conditioning filters every month (in both central and window air conditioners).

Turn the thermostat up a few degrees when you have the air conditioning on.  74 degrees is very comfortable and you are saving up to 5% on your electric bills for each degree of temperature change.

Plant trees in your yard because they help shade your house in the summer and keep your house cooler.

If you can, shade your air conditioning unit.  If your unit is in the bright sun, it will use up to 5% more energy than if it was in the shade

Winter Tips:

1.   Keep your thermostat at or below 68 degrees. If you are cold, put on a sweater or sweatshirt.  Remember, you are saving up to 5% on your electric bill for every degree of temperature change.
2.   On sunny winter days, open your curtains, drapes, and blinds  to let the sunshine in to warm up your house.
3.   Put clear plastic over some of your windows.  This will work like insulation and prevent cold air from getting in your house.
4.   Put caulking around window frames and doors from the inside.
5.   Make sure windows and doors close well so they do not let any cold air in.
6.   Repair any broken or cracked window glass.
7.   Plant trees in your yard because trees break the cold winter wind before it reaches your house.
8.   If you have a fireplace, make sure you have a tight-fitting damper and keep it closed when you are not using the fireplace.

You need to learn what circuits are needed for a typical kitchen, whether you are building a new home or just remodeling an older home.  There are some basic circuits that are needed in a kitchen area to supply an effective amount of power to the appliances that will be used. Here is a list of the most commonly used circuits in a kitchen.

The refrigerator requires a dedicated 20-amp, 125-volt circuit. You may only have a smaller refrigerator, while someone else may have a 25 cubic foot side-by-side refrigerator that draws more power. A 12/2 NM wire with a ground is required.

An electric range will need a dedicated 250-volt, 50-amp circuit. That means that you’ll need to pull a 6/3 NM cable or #6 THHN wire in pipe to feed the range.  If it’s a gas range, it will only require a 125-volt receptacle to feed the range, although while in the construction phase, it’s a good idea to add the electric range feed while the walls are open just in the event you ever want to purchase an electric range.

The dishwasher circuit should be a dedicated 125-volt, 15-amp circuit. It is fed with a 14/2 NM wire with a ground. You may elect to feed the dishwasher with a 20-amp circuit using 12/2 NM wire with a ground.

Food disposers do the dirty work, clean up the messes after meals. A dedicated 15-amp circuit is required being fed by 14/2 NM wire with a ground. You may elect to feed the disposer with a 20-amp circuit using 12/2 NM wire with a ground.

The microwave oven needs a dedicated 20-amp, 125-volt circuit to feed it. This will require 12/2 NM wire with a ground.

You will also be using small appliances that sit on your counter tops and they draw additional electrical loads. Atop your countertop, you will need two dedicated 20-amp, 125-volt circuits to run your small appliance loads. You know like toasters, electric griddles, coffee pots, etc… Although there may be more than two outlets on these circuits, two circuits is the minimum. That’s not to say you can’t add more circuits if your needs require them.

Of course, a kitchen wouldn’t be complete without a lighting circuit to brighten the cooking area. A 15-amp, 125-volt dedicated circuit is required to power the ceiling fixtures, can lights, under cabinet lights, and strip lights if you have them. Each set of lights should have their own switch giving you the option of which ones to turn on.

Mercury filled thermostats served their purpose in the past.  However, times have changed and digital programmable thermostats are the way to go now. With electric and gas prices skyrocketing, a digital thermostat will save you money. It will turn the furnace and air conditioner on and off automatically. The best part is they can be set for different temperatures at different times of the day.

Before you begin, read the manufacturer’s instructions that were sent with the thermostat. These pages will guide you by step-by-step instructions on how to install the device before you begin.  You will also have to assemble the tools that you are going to use.  These include screwdrivers, wire Strippers scratch Awl (for making a hole in the drywall for the new plastic anchors), hammer and a level.

Before doing any electrical work, shut off the power. In this case, the circuit feeding the furnace controls the power to the thermostat. Go to the breaker or fuse panel and turn the breaker off or fuse out.

You have to remove the old thermostat first.  Begin by taking the face plate off of the old thermostat and remove the mounting screws. This will expose the thermostat base. Carefully remove the wires from the thermostat base. Mark down on a piece of paper which color wire goes to what terminal. It should be red to “R” for power, white to “C” for common, blue to “Y” for cool, and green to “G” for fan. Be sure to tie the wires together so that they don’t fall into the wall.

Remove the old base by removing the mounting screws. These may be screwed into plastic anchors. These mounts probably won’t work with the new thermostat.

In order to install the new base, you’ll need to install the new mounting hardware. Usually the manufacturer will send some plastic anchors. With a drill bit slightly smaller than the anchor, drill the holes for the new base. It’s a good idea to level the thermostat for looks.

Using the paper that you wrote the wire colors on, connect the wires accordingly to the new thermostat. Remember, each color goes on only one terminal screw.

Now attach the new thermostat to the base and install the cover. Depending on the model, this may be mounted with screws.

The final step is to turn the power back on and test the thermostat. Check to see if the thermostat is functioning properly.  Be sure to tie the thermostat wire back so it doesn’t fall down inside of the wall.  Take note of the wire colors and the marked terminals they are connected to. This is important for reconnecting.

A lower electric bill is something most of us are trying to do these days. There are some easy things you can do to lower your electricity consumption.You can turn all electric appliances off at night and not leave them on standby mode.When your cell phone is fully charged, unplug it. When considering changing your light bulbs, choose to change all of them to energy saving light bulbs. Not only do they use less electricity, they last longer. When you purchase new appliances, especially refrigerators and washing machines, make sure they sport the energy efficiency star. Even though turning off lights when not in use is a very obvious choice, many people do not.

Once you have made your home more energy efficient and reduced your energy consumption as much as possible, you need to decide if other modes of energy delivery are in the offing for you.If solar power will fulfill all your needs, so be it. Or a mixture of solar and wind power are for you, then go for it.

The truth is that people who assume that home solar panel costs are too expensive are actually wrong.I know if you go out and get your local solar panel dealer to install them then you are looking at prices ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 and the time it takes to get your money back is a very long time.Around the world the cost of energy is increasing regularly. Oil and gas are much higher than they use to be. This has resulted in a dramatic increase in the price of electricity.Due to this, people are looking for a lower electric bill and want to drive down their energy costs by producing their own energy.

I looked at my monthly expenses to see what was gobbling up most of my money.One look at my utilities bill and I knew I needed to do something.On TV and in the press I had read and heard about people setting up solar panels on their roof or in the garden.I took my time, did my homework and was amazed at what I found.

You will be amazed at how easy it is to make the switch to solar energy, and you are probably going to wonder why you didn’t do this before. There are lots of great reasons to install solar panels on your house. Top of the list is huge savings you will find on your utility bills. Another benefit is the freedom of not being tied to the national grid when you have enough solar panels (besides the possibility that if you have more than you need, you can re-sell your excess power to your utility company.)With solar panels fitted, power cuts and unexpectedly increased electric bills become a thing of the past.

You can build your own solar panels at nowhere near the cost of what your local dealer will charge. Like everything in life, the first time it will take some time and effort but with clear plans, written in a non-technical way, you will manage very well so that the second solar panel will go a lot quicker. When you are installing solar panels at home you must look into the government incentive programs. The government is very much an advocate for solar panels and in most cases will give you money to help you install them.

So all in all you can see that renewable energy by way of solar panels is the way forward to a lower electric bill.

Any time you remodel there are always some golden opportunities for improvement. You probably, at the beginning, are more interested in the surface quality of the renovation. All you can think about is that sparkling new kitchen, that fresh coat of paint, and replacing that worn out carpet. But beneath each visual enhancement there is a chance for efficiency advancement. As you complete a project it’s never a bad idea to consider energy conservation since it not only helps the environment, but also saves you money. And, no matter the project, it’s typically the small things that work best, tiny upgrades that won’t distract from the remodel but can detract from your electric bill.

Kitchens are the most popular room to renovate since it’s important to keep them up to date. And though surface features such as cabinets, counters, and floors are often the focus, as you remodel it may be time to think about replacing your appliances. ENERGY STAR products can instantly cut your electric energy bill by 40 percent since they use less power and water. They also come in many trendy styles and sizes to match your needs. Additionally, if you replace your gas or electric stove with an induction range that uses a small amount of concentrated heat, you’ll use less energy while you cook.

As you replace sinks, showerheads, and faucets, consider low-flow products. The pressure is just as strong as conventional items while still cutting down on water usage. Instead of draining three gallons per a flush, or pouring about four gallons per a minute from a faucet, low-flow fixtures utilize half the amount: enough to be comfortable without the waste. And since the mechanisms inside the fixtures do all the work, the exterior is still able to shine through since they’re available in any style, trend, or finish.

For the rest of the house (family rooms, offices, bedrooms), your focus on renovations most likely will abate. Unless you’re breaking through walls or adding additions, the remainder of the home will probably focus more on interior design issues: paint, furniture, and especially lighting. But as you improve lighting in a particular area, think about how to best utilize the source. Instead of using one overhead bulb, task lighting may be a more efficient enhancement. Remember, it looks chic and modern, but it also concentrates the glow. Plus, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) last a lot longer and use less energy than traditional incandescent products.

When you remodel the exterior, you’re probably thinking about landscaping. But even when picking out plants, take a tip from the “xeroscaping” handbook. The “xeroscaping” philosophy recommends you plant vegetation that matches your environment. So make sure you select flowers and shrubs that can easily survive in your neck of the woods and won’t require constant watering or tending. Speaking of water, traditional sprinklers are often unable to control their water distribution, and tend to evaporate the moisture before it has a chance to hit the ground. Instead, buy a drip irrigation system that can concentrate smaller amounts of water onto your plant life. Or maybe invest in an underground sprinkler system that can run on a controlled timer. Plus, as you set up your exterior lighting, consider investing in some solar lights: they’re not as bright as electric bulbs, but they last all night and cost nothing to use or install.

Since most people want their houses to appear airy, windows are the best way to accomplish an open feel. Day lighting, or adding more windows in specific locations, is a great way to capture natural sun, thereby saving on electric and heating bills. However, as you install or replace your glass, make sure your windows are double-paned and glazed. Energy efficient low-e (low emissive) and spectrally-selective coatings block out UV rays while still allowing light and heat to pass through. Also, remember the trimmings: storm windows, solar shades, and window treatments can help to protect your home from solar heat gain.

The best way to conserve energy is to add insulation to your house. If you’re converting an attic or basement, lay down an extra layer of fiberglass or cellulose: It’ll increase your R-value without breaking your budget. Caulk windows and doors as you change them or even if you do not. Caulk and seal the old ones. But if you’re replacing an old HVAC system with a new model, you may want to think about a few more energy-efficient options, such as an ENERGY STAR boiler or furnace which use an electric igniter instead of a gas-powered pilot light. Or, invest in a programmable thermostat to help you control and stabilize the indoor temperature better.

Always, if in doubt as to how to do something in the best and most safest way, hire a professional electrician and/or other kind of contractor.

If you’re thinking of buying an electric shower, the first thing to consider are your expectations. Electric showers shouldn’t be confused with power showers. Many people associate a forceful invigorating water jet with power, and are then disappointed by the reality of the average electric shower. In the past, electric showers have been the ugly ducklings of the shower world compared to sleek shiny mixer showers. Recently some manufacturers have moved away from white or silver wall-mounted plastic boxes, and developed glass or slate-effect boxes with chrome controls.

An electric shower is essentially a water heater. It relies on heating mains-pressure cold water very fast as it flows towards the shower head. There is no pump involved, so the amount of water you get through will depend on your mains water pressure. Electric showers are economical as you heat only the water you need, and they’re the only type of shower that’s independent of the hot water system, so if your boiler fails you can still have a hot shower.

The other type of electric shower is a pumped ’power shower’. These connect to both your hot and cold water supplies and are essentially mixer showers, but use an electrical pump to increase the pressure coming out of the shower head, and therefore use much less electricity than an electrically heated shower. An electric shower requires plumbing only to a mains cold water supply, and connection to the electrical supply. The high power electrical element will require connection to a separate electrical supply circuit, which requires an electrician’s services..

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Difference-between-Electric-Shower-and-power-shower/980426