Make sure that electrical outlets aren’t overloaded with too many plugs and that all electric cords in the home are in good condition. Check that no electric cords are run under rugs or furniture legs – furthermore, they shouldn’t be run near hot appliances.

Further hints include checking that your electric appliances are used away from water and that people carry appliances in the house by the handle and not by the cord.

One great suggestion is to install programmable thermostats.  Programmable thermostats allow you to dictate when the furnace will be turned on and off.  You don’t have to remember to turn the thermostat off at night, and then to turn it back on in the morning.  With the programmable thermostat, you won’t have to worry that you forgot to turn the temperature down when everyone is at work, thus wasting money heating an empty house.

Rather, the programmable unit ensures that you program the heat to keep you comfortable when you are around the house – and to help you to save when you don’t need the heat or air turned up.  The unit can be set to turn on right before the family goes to bed and wakes up, and to be turned down in the middle of the night and throughout the day when no one is home.

This one item can drastically reduce your energy bills while keeping your family comfortable and responsibly using your energy.