By Leah Ingram

Posted: 06.16.09 | Tagged: energy-saving

Have you been staying home more these days, you know because of the economy? Cooking at home instead of eating out? Renting movies or watching them on demand instead of going to the movies? Washing your clothes instead of bringing them to the cleaners? All of those money-saving changes could be having a positive effect on your pocketbook but an adverse affect on your energy bills.

In addition, now that you’ve made some green changes to your lifestyle, like swapping out old-fashioned, energy-sucking incandescent light bulbs for the compact fluorescent kind or replacing old windows with energy-efficient ones, you may be wondering why you don’t see your bills doing down. Well, the Alliance to Save Energy, a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide, has some answers.

In fact, here are four ideas from them on how you can keep your energy costs in check.

1. Could it be the dreaded “Snackwell effect?” Just as dieters gorge on low-calorie/low-fat cookies in the erroneous belief that the calories “don’t count” and they won’t gain weight, some people who buy energy-efficient appliances, lighting, or electronics may sabotage their efforts to save energy and money by using them more. Even if you’ve got CFLs in all of your rooms, you should still turn on only the minimum number of lights you need and then turn off the lights when you leave a room.

2. Have you added new products that use electricity and increase your overall energy use? Perhaps your electronics don’t carry the Energy Star certification label, the symbol of energy efficiency. Or perhaps you are simply plugging in more products than you did before. Do you remember to unplug those electronics when they’re not use? That’s one way to start saving money on energy use. Another good tip: you should only purchase electronics with the Energy Star label on them. (Even Dustbusters are Energy Star-rated these days.) Visit the Alliance to Save Energy’s website for tips on lowering your energy bills.

3. Have your energy-service providers increased rates in your area? One way to find out if rates have gone up is to ask your energy provider. If they have find out if they offer any reduced rates for off-peak times or any other rate possibilities including a levelized bill. (That’s a bill where you’re charged for an average use and tends not to fluctuate so much from month to month–helps with sticker shock, you know?) If your energy provider can’t answer your questions, the Alliance suggests doing the following:

• Do a Google search on changes of energy rates by your provider.
• Look for stories in your local newspapers and media–big rate increases often get major coverage.
• Review your energy bills to see your month-by-month comparison of energy use and what you were charged.
• If you’re not satisfied with your current energy provider, consider switching. The Alliance suggests making your decision based on a combination of rates and cleaner energy sources for power.

4. Are you staying at home more in this turbulent economy? Being at home for more hours each day can increase your energy bills, so practice good energy-conservation hygiene. Turn lights off when you leave a room, don’t keep unused electronics plugged it, and adjust the thermostat so that you’re not cooling or heating the entire house at once. The Alliance has additional easy ways to save energy around the house.