You don't always have to spend money to make money. Here are five ways to cut your electric bill without spending a fortune:

1. Lower your thermostat by 10 degrees before you go to bed or work. You'll save up to 1 percent per degree on your heating bill if you let your house cool off a bit for eight hours a day, and it won't cost you a dime. 

2. Here's another freebie: close the heating vents in your unfinished basement. There's no need to heat a room that's only used for a few minutes at a time.

3. Cover your windows with plastic for about $5 per window. Sealing the inside of your windows costs a lot less than replacing the windows and it prevents cold air from getting in the house and heated air from leaking out.

4. Use weatherstripping to seal the edges of windows. The price: about $1 per window.

5. Seal air leaks in the attic and basement. Use expanding foam or caulk to cover cracks in basement walls and in the attic where walls meet the ceiling or floor. The materials should cost less than $10.

Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. 4515 Bishop Lane * Louisville, KY  40218 502-451-2430 * FAX: 502-459-3209 Terms of Use