What you can do:

Electricity use by appliances accounts for 36% of total energy costs in the average home. The easiest, cheapest ways to save money include:

1. Shutting off refrigerators and freezers that are not needed. If you have a second refrigerator or freezer that is only used occasionally, shutting it off can save you over $150-$250/year.
2. Shutting off computers and televisions when not in use. If you work with a computer for 8 hours a day and then shut it off when not in use you will save about $10 dollars a month or about $120/year, compared to leaving it running 24 hours a day. A television with a 27 inch screen left on for 4 extra hours a day will add about $20-$25/year to your electricity bill, and a television with a 35 inch screen will add about $40/year. Look over this document for information on operating costs/hour for just about every appliance you might have in your home.
3. Washing machine: 90% of the cost of washing your clothes is heating the water. Wash your clothes with cold water where appropriate, and if you must dry less than a full load adjust the water level to the size of the load to save on hot water use.
4. Drying clothes: Line drying clothes saves both money AND your clothes.
5. If your electricity supplier offers night rates for electricity and you are able to operate at night the appliances that use the greatest amount of electricity you can save up to 30% on the cost of running those appliances. For example if you used a clothes dryer, your hot water heater and a dehumidifier only at night you could save nearly 20 dollars a month ($220/year) if you had night rates for electricity.
6. If you need to buy a new appliance try to purchase an Energy Star appliance, and save at least 20% on the electricity costs compared to a similar appliance that is not Energy Star rated.

Savings:

1. Shutting off a second refrigerator: save up to $150-250/year.
2. Turn off computer when not in use: save up to $120/year; you’ll save up to $10/year for each hour of reduction in average daily use.
3. Washing clothes in cold water can save up to $50/year.
4. For each load of clothes you line dry you will save 30-50 cents. If you line dry 2 loads a week you could save up to $100/year.
5. Select the night rates option for electricity and operate these appliances only at night: hot water heater-- save up to $150/year; electric clothes dryer--up to $50/year; dehumidifier--up to $20/year.
6. Buy Energy Star appliances: save 20% or more for each appliance.