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If you're looking for ways to keep your energy bills under control, then here are some tips that will help you.

1) Change your energy service provider to one that charges less money. Go on line and check out the competitive market. You'll be surprised how much less some of them charge for the same service you're getting now at the higher cost.

2) Limit your use of electrical coils because they eat up your dollars in energy. Electric Dryers and ovens use an incredible amount of energy.

- hang your laundry on a clothes line to dry and use the dryer only for fluffing them

- use a small conventional oven for everything except those large meals like the turkey. They are convenient, efficient and cost so much less to operate.

3) Replace small electric kitchen objects with manual ones, ie: the can opener, the cat's water dish, the carving knife, the room deodorizer.

4) Keep the second fridge unplugged and use it only on needed occasions. This will save a lot on wasted energy.

5) Limit the use of the dishwasher to every other day and you'll cut that expense in half.

6) Use cold water to wash the laundry it's just as efficient as warm or hot water but saves a fortune on your energy bill.

7) Cut your shower times in half and save half that expense.

8) Use motion detector lights for outdoor and out-of-the-way lights such as basement or closets. No more energy being wasted for lights left on.

9) Change all your light bulbs to the new energy efficient ones and save two thirds of your lighting energy costs.

10) Install a programmable thermostat to regulate your heating and cooling usages instead of having the system on all the time.

11) Set your heating temperature lower at night when you're sleeping, raise it first thing in the morning to heat the house and then keep it at a low but comfortable temperature during the day. It's amazing how much you save by adjusting the thermostat by a degree or so.

12) Install ceiling fans to circulate the air so the heat and/or the air conditioning won't run full time.

13) Keep the humidifier on the furnace in good working order water in the air holds the heat in longer.

14) Put blinds on windows that let in a lot of sun during the summer so the house will stay cooler and the air conditioner won't come on as often.

15) Put weather stripping and calking around doors and windows to prevent air loss.

16) Put plastic window sheets on worn windows to keep heat in during the winter.

17) Keep the dryer and stove air vents in good working order to avoid letting outside air in.

18) Get in the habit of shutting things off behind you, ie: the television, the computer, the stereo set and any other electrical devices that habitually get left on.

19) Involve the whole family by putting a coin in a piggy bank every time a child turns off a light or helps to save energy. Use this as an incentive for a family treat each month.

Make it a big deal because it is!

Learn more about this author, Ronnie Dauber.
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