Reduce Utility Bills

There are a few super simple ways to save on your utility bills that will have a bonus savings in other areas.

1. Reduce amount of shampoo and conditioner. Using the right amount of shampoo and conditioner will reduce the amount of water and the amount of energy used to heat the water in the shower. Excess shampoo and conditioner will take longer to rinse, especially if you have long or thick hair. Higher priced brands are usually less concentrated so you can use less per shower.
2. Minimize hand washing. Using hand disinfectants (especially the ones with lotion that don’t dry) will be less expensive than running and heating water. Regular towels and paper towels are not needed for drying either so that reduces laundry and paper waste (bad for the environment).
3. Know your employee benefits and any discounts that come with it. (Wal-Mart employees get discounts on selected cell phone service each month). If your company matches any contributions, participate and take that free money to use for paying utility bills.
4. Diet. If you need to loose weight, less weight in the car will save money on gas and wear and tear on the vehicle. Changing your diet to include a fresh food night that requires no cooking and no driving to fast food will benefit your health, your environment, and reduce the utility bill (and your gas bill).

Children may be the hardest ones to get on board with reducing utility bills. There are two ways to get them to do their part:

1. Bonuses for helping to reduce utility bills
2. Fines for not helping to reduce utility bills

Bonus plan:

• Financial bonus-a portion of savings, small and consistent rewards every time they are “caught” turning off lights, taking a shorter shower, etc.
• Treat or activity at the end of every month they help reduce utility bills.
• Use balance of money in quarter jar (see below) for a specific a treat or activity.

Fines:

• Start with a jar with $5 in quarters. Every time they leave a light on, leave water running, etc. a quarter is removed and put in a jar to be used to help pay the utility bill.
• Deduct from allowance a set amount when wasting energy.
• Do extra work around house to “pay” for extra energy used.

Post a copy of the chart that comes with most utility bills where children can see it. Point out how heating and cooling costs effect the amount used some months and show how when they help (like hang up their clothes to dry, take shorter showers, and more) reduce the utility bills. Write down amount of money per day was charged for the previous month.

When children want money, to do an activity, or need transportation somewhere, let them know there is an extra $15 available because they helped reduce utility bills by .50 per day.

Yes…..you can raise children who know how to reduce utility bills!

When you have a faucet on all the way it maximizes the water pressure that comes out of the faucet and causes water to be used the longer the water is on. That of course will increase your water bill.

To minimize the amount of water being used try these suggestions:

• Turn off water when not being used (like while brushing your teeth)
• Find out the minimum amount of water needed (turned on 1/4? 1/2?) to rinse toothbrush, dishes, etc. without running the water longer.
• Only fully turn on faucet in shower when rinsing thick/long hair and turn back down when rinsing your body.
• Shave legs and face outside of shower so it water can be turned off in between. Wipe shaving cream off with wet wash cloth and rinsing will use even less water.
• Use electric shavers. Take electric shaver off charger and unplug charger as soon as fully charged to use minimal electricity.
• Install water saving shower heads (will maintain pressure while using minimal amount of water).

Using less hot water will also lower electric or gas bills because less energy is used to heat the water.