Simple tips can help take bite out of utility bills

There are certain fixed expenses we have no choice but to spend on, including utilities.

I managed to reduce my utility bill this winter quite substantially over past years, with a little effort and help from a mild winter.

I had always been careful, but a few extra changes really tipped the scale in my favor this winter. First off, our winter was warmer than normal, and this is automatically a savings, as it costs less to heat our homes. Second, I dropped my thermostat a few more degrees from last year and put on long pants and a sweatshirt.

I used to justify keeping my home warmer because I have small dogs. I got them a heated bed, and they were just fine with the heat completely off during the day. On the coldest evenings, a heated mattress cover or heated blanket helped me to keep warm with the heat much lower or off.

Every year, I insulate my windows with either builder’s Styrofoam or heavy curtains. If sunny, windows are uncovered to let the sun’s passive solar energy naturally heat up the room. If cloudy, windows are covered to hold in precious heat.

I also switched a great deal of my lighting to energy-efficient LED lighting. LED lights use 75 percent to 80 percent less energy than incandescent lights.

I find the light from a compact fluorescent bulb more comfortable for reading, so for my reading lamps I stick to CFLs, but virtually everything else in my home has been converted to LEDs.

Many people underestimate how much wasted energy drain occurs when lights or appliances are not being used. Many lights and appliances continue to drain energy when turned off or left on standby. I’m lucky to have a dedicated light switch that directly connects to most of my outlets I like to use during the evening. By flipping this switch, I can cut power to the outlets that would otherwise continue to drain even if the light or appliance is turned off.

This same effect can be achieved by using a power strip that can be switched off, or by unplugging items not in use.

I also use LED night lights. The night lights I use claim to use 25 cents of electricity a year. Having these low-wattage night lights in my kitchen, hallway and bathroom helps me cut down my overhead light usage at night.

It takes a little effort to make a dent in utility bills, but I saved roughly $100 a month from last year by lowering the thermostat, switching to LED lighting and being disciplined about turning off outlets not in use. That is savings enough to make the extra effort worthwhile. E-mail Nikki Boertman at boertman@commercialappeal.com.