Lighting accounts for approximately 20 percent of a typical electric bill, so using energy efficient bulbs can result in big savings. If enough people switch to LEDs (light-emitting diodes), by 2027 the U.S. could save about $265 billion, according to a Department of Energy estimate. But how do you choose…...
Slay “vampire power” with smart power strips
Appliances and electronics can suck up power even when you’re not using them. This wasteful “phantom” or “vampire” power can account for up to 20 percent of residential energy use. But a smart power strip can help tame this problem. It saves energy on devices that are on stand-by—they’re plugged in and…...
Don’t get HOT over your AC bill
Illinois households burn an average of $2,693 a year on energy bills, according to the federal Energy Information Administration, and half of that goes into heating and cooling. As summer approaches, it’s time to start thinking how to keep air conditioning bills from going through the roof. Repair or replace?…...
Hot tip: ComEd’s Hourly Pricing program might be right for you!
More than a million Illinois consumers are with alternative suppliers, but CUB would like to alert people to yet another choice: Commonwealth Edison’s Hourly Pricing program. The program lets customers take advantage of hourly market-based electricity rates, which tend to be lower during nights and weekends. While not for everyone, thousands of…...
Want to lower your cellphone data bill?
One of the biggest sources of frustration for smartphone users is exorbitant data rates. However, there are measures you can take to prevent paying more than you have to on your next bill. (The Cleveland Plain Dealer ran a series of stories about data overages, including some really helpful tips, after…...
Illinoisans, your No. 1 job on Sunday: Stay Warm!
The National Weather Service has issued an advisory, saying frigid air and strong winds will combine to create wind chills of 20 to 30 degrees below zero through Monday morning. That means we might all be watching the coldest Bears-Packers game in Chicago history tomorrow–but it also means its wise to follow…...
