Save Energy: Cut Electricity Bills Facts and Figures on Electricity Consumption and How to Reduce It Toasters Use

1,000 Watts an Hour Toasters Use 1,000 Watts an Hour ch energy does a laptop use? More than a toaster? Find out about electricity con sumption and how to be more energy efficient, while saving money. Surprisingly a toaster would use 1,000 watts an hour compared to 75 watts for a laptop on for the same period of time. Other energy hungry appliances tend to be cookers and electric showers, followed by electric kettles using more than 2,00 0 watts per hour. Some of these may be essential, but here is how you can cut do wn on electricity consumption. Heating * Turn the heating thermostat down by just one degree and save up to 10 % of your overall electricity bill. * Invest in heavy curtains to keep the heat in and close them each night. Up to 25% of heat escapes through windows if they are not double glazed. * Hot water does not need to be more than 60degrees C or 140degrees F. Heati ng water that then needs to be blended with cold water is a waste of energy. * Insulate hot water pipes and tanks. Tanks can lose up to 75 % of heat thro ugh lack of insulation. Cooling * Fridges and freezers account for up to 33% of the electricity bill. To kee p them efficient, ensure that the metal grids and coils at the back have enough space for air to circulate, and that they are dust-free. * Defrost freezers when the ice reaches 5mm thick. * Replace damaged door seals promptly. * In the United States, air-conditioning accounts for 14 percent of the elec tricity bill. Turn it down. Light * Use low-energy light bulbs.(11 watts an hour) Traditional light bulbs use 80% more energy mostly making heat, not light. * Avoid up-lighters. They use high wattage light bulbs. * Turning lights off when you are out of the room does not shorten the life of a light bulb. Strip lighting can also safely be turned off and on. Cooking * Fan assisted ovens use less electricity. * Slow Cookers use very little energy. * Boil only the amount of water you need in the kettle. Keep the kettle free of lime scale by filling it with 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 cups of water. Le ave to stand over night. Rinse carefully and throw away the first lot of boiled water. Washing * Wait until you have a full load before using the washing machine. * Cold wash anything that is not grease marked or heavily soiled. * Limit lime scale if you live in a hard water area. 200mls of white vinegar in the detergent tray, run on a wash cycle, will clear the lime scale. Repeat e very two or three months to keep the machine running efficiently and cut electri city bills.

* Minimise use of tumble dryers. They use 40% of the power on stand-by so tu rn them off. For general questions about energy in the US The National Energy Information Cen ter Calculate how much electricity you use.