There are a few times a year when you can easily increase electrical conservation in your home. Leaving home and going on vacation is one of those times. If you are planning a summer vacation, don’t be misled into thinking that you’ll save money on your utility bills when you’re away. It takes more than locking the door and leaving to save power while you’re gone. If you’ll be going on vacation this summer, you’ll want to read the following tips to prevent coming home to high utility bills. Whether you’ll just be gone a few days or for a few weeks, the following tips will help ensure that you aren’t paying for unnecessary electricity while you are out.

The A/C

It’s not always enough to turn down your a/c. Instead, shut it off completely. If you have a programmable thermostat with advanced settings you may be able to program it so that it cools your house before you come back. A timer may be necessary to have the a/c power go on.

Water Heater

Water heaters are notorious for wasting energy, as they constantly heat the water in your home. Turn off the water heater at the circuit breaker or fuse box. This could save you $15-$20 a month. If you are going to be on vacation for more than 2 weeks, this step is really worth your while.

Refrigerator and Freezer

Slightly raise the temperature on your fridge and freezer if you’ll be gone for just a few days. If you’re going on a longer vacation, empty all contents and shut it down. Prop open the door to prevent mildew. Clearing out and shutting down your fridge and freezer can prevent you from a substantial loss. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way. During the Northeast Blackout of 2003, we went on a month long vacation out of the country, leaving behind a freezer full of food. I had even prepared a few frozen meals so that we could eat well on our hectic week back from vacation and had stocked up on frozen goods to avoid a shopping trip. Our loss definitely amounted to a few hundred dollars.

Lights

Make sure that all lights are turned off. Depending on how important home security is in your area, consider leaving a few lights on timers to create an occupied look for your home.

Close Your Blinds

Make sure the blinds or drapes are closed. If your a/c is on, closed shades will help keep the house even cooler for your return by keeping the sun out.

Pull the Plug

Unplug all appliances and anything electrical before you leave. Electrical items that are plugged in while not in use utilize what is referred to as a standby power. Standby power can contribute to as much as 10 percent of your electricity bill. Go through each room in your home and make a checklist of each electrical item. Here are a few that you shouldn’t overlook:

. TV
. Digital TV recorder
. Cell phone and battery chargers
. Computers
. Printers, scanners, fax machine
. Microwave
. Digital clocks
. Lamps

Source: Pays to Live Green

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