For one reason or the other, the bills are always on the rise, with your electricity bill topping the list. There are some bills we can control by compromising on, but some others are just too inconvenient to give up! Electricity is one such element that’s difficult to put a cap on. However, unknown to most of us, there are numerous small-small ways in which we can cut costs and wastage of energy and contribute our little bit towards saving the environment.

With the increasing use of technology in all aspects of our life, including heating/cooling, lighting, devices as well as transportation, energy consumption is on the rise. However, with the following tips, you can make a difference to your wallet and the planet.

Keep doors and curtains closed. Heating or cooling the whole house is expensive, so use heaters/coolers only in the rooms that you spend the most time in, keeping the doors and curtains closed to keep the desired temperatures locked in. Make sure your windows close tightly to prevent air leakage.

Set your thermostat correctly. The temperature on your thermostat shouldn’t be more than 2-4 degrees different from the outside temperature or it will contribute to a 10% increase in your bill. In the summer, set temperatures at 26 degrees.

Wash clothes in normal water. There is not much point in washing clothes in heated water as it consumes a significantly higher amount of energy. Operate the washing when it’s a full load and use the shortest cycle appropriate.

Dress according to the weather. Wear layered clothes during winter and light cotton during summers so you won’t feel the need to keep the heaters/coolers turned on high.

Insulate your roof. This would help grossly in keeping your home cool during the Indian summers, reducing your air-conditioning bills. There are numerous ways you can do this, depending on the kind of roof you have.

Standby power is energy wasted. Once your gadgets are charged or not in use, switch off from the socket. This loss of vampire energy could account for as much as 10% of your bill!

Use energy-efficient lighting. New generation LED or CFL lighting save on energy as well as last longer. Time to do away with the old incandescent and halogen bulbs!

Use your fridge efficiently. As your fridge is one of the appliances that are always on 24×7, you need to make sure it closes properly and is working at the right temperatures. Ideal fridge temperature is 4-5 degrees while for the freezer, it’s minus fifteen to minus eighteen degrees.

Save energy in the kitchen. Some ways to save energy include using the microwave instead of the electric oven whenever possible as it consumes less electricity. Cover pots when cooking as it reduces cooking time and runs the dishwasher only when it’s full.