4 ways to reduce your utility bill
Now that it's getting colder, chances are your utility bill is about to shoot through the roof. While heating your home isn't exactly optional, there are ways you can cut back your energy consumption -- which will not only save you money, but also reduce your impact on the environment.
Here's four quick tips:
- Check out programmable thermostats. These reduce heat at night, or at times of day you know you'll be out of the house (just so you don't have to remember).
- Keep tabs on your computer's energy usage. Your computer doesn't take up that much power when you're not using it -- but, over time, this adds up! Plus, if you have an old-school CRT monitor, this is a huge energy hog. Give yourself an early Christmas present and replace it with a LCD monitor.
- When replacing appliances, air conditioners, home electronics (or just about anything, really), look for products that are approved by Energy Star -- according to their website, Americans saved $14 billion on their utilities bills by using Energy Star-approved products last year.
- Consider alternative energy. If you can afford to install it, a solar or wind energy system could help you generate all the electricity you need to run your home, meaning you'd never have to pay another electricity bill again -- ever.
For more tips, check out this helpful article on ExtremeTech.













