Information on Saving Electricity

Electricity is technically a secondary energy source, according to the United States Department of Energy. This is because we get electricity from conversion of other sources of energy such as fossil fuels at power plants. Other types of energy sources include solar, wind and nuclear energy. Finding ways to save electricity in your home will help you save money while helping the environment.

Considerations

• Solar panels are a renewable source of electricity.

  Electricity is not a renewable or non-renewable resource, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, there are both renewable and nonrenewable resources that we use to create electricity. Examples of nonrenewable energy sources to create electricity include natural gas, oil and coal. Examples of renewable energy sources include solar, wind, wave and nuclear energy. Eventually, we will use up all nonrenewable energy sources and will need to get our electricity from renewable energy sources.

Tips

• Using ceiling fans instead of air conditioning is one way to save electricity in your home.

  If you plan to leave a room for more than a few minutes, try turning off the light to save electricity. Using fluorescent lightbulbs can significantly help to save electricity, according to Energy Quest. These lightbulbs use approximately one-fourth the energy of normal lightbulbs. Turning off the television when no one is watching it also helps save electricity. This goes for any type of electrical device in your home.

  In the summer, try to use fans instead of air conditioning because fans use significantly less electricity.

  Microwaves use about 50 percent less energy to heat food than stoves, so try to use a microwave whenever possible.

Quick Fact

• Americans use more energy than they need to heat their homes.

  Americans use twice as much energy than they need to heat their homes, according to Energy Quest.

Misconceptions

• Saving water saves electricity.

  Saving water actually helps save electricity, according to Energy Quest. In fact, the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up. One simple way to save electricity and energy is to take shorter showers.

  Washing dishes in a dishwasher saves an average of 37 percent more water and electricity than washing dishes by hand, according to Energy Quest.

Benefits

• Saving electricity reduces the release of greenhouse gases.

  Finding ways to reduce electricity use in your home won't only help the environment, but will also help you save money. If we use more energy, we need to burn more fossil fuels to create the electricity. Saving electricity helps minimize the use of fossil fuels, which reduces the amount of greenhouse gases that released into the atmosphere. This slows down global warming and protects the environment.