TRIM YOUR ELECTRIC BILL

Electricity costs have surged as much as 28 percent in the past year, depending on Use wool dryer balls instead of dryer sheets and reduce drying time up to 25 percent. Wash full loads: Partial ones use the same amount of energy. Dial down the thermostat by two degrees to cut about 5 percent on heating bills. Turn off unnecessary lights: Lighting accounts for about 12 percent of a residential utility bill. Pull the plug on electronics like toasters and air fryers that drain energy in standby mode. Clean refrigerator coils at least once a year. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that typical households can save 25 percent on utility bills with energy efficiency measures, which amounts to over $2,200 annually.