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How to Cut Down in Electricity Costs When You’re on Vacation
Electric costs are high, and when you are on vacation, don’t keep your electric meter ticking. Just ensure that you follow a few steps to save on your electric bill while you are away.
Do not keep the air conditioner running, but if you cannot shut it off completely; set it at a temperature of 85. Even that will save a part of your electric bill. Switch off all water heaters in your house from the circuit breaker or fuse box. Otherwise the water in your heater will be kept warm costing you money and wasting a lot of energy.
Clean your refrigerator and freezer if you want to shut them off completely. Keep the doors slightly ajar, so that no mildew is formed. But if you are going away for less than a month, just set the thermostat to a warm setting.
Use timers and motion detectors for your lights, so that they get switched on and off automatically. Otherwise, if you turn off the lights completely, the security of the house is at stake. The swimming pool lights should also have a timer, so that they don't unnecessarily run all the time.
Disconnect all your electrical gadgets like the TV, cell phone battery chargers, computers, microwave oven, digital clocks, printers or scanners. Sometimes it is not enough just to put them off because even on standby some power is taken up, which is estimated to be 10% of your electricity bill. Hence if you do not unplug them they will continue to use electricity.
On an average, the electricity bill for one household is $100 per month. When the air conditioner runs in summer, electricity consumption is high. So try and use some simple methods to bring down your electricity bills to help the environment and your pocket.
Ask your local electrician about additional tips and recommendations about keeping the bill down when you're away.