Cell phone bill. Car insurance bill. Electric bill.

In a world of accumulating bills, saving a buck or two can be the mirage in the desert. But it is possible. While the price on many daily costs are out of our control, e.g., gas, milk, internet; one cost you can actively lower is your electric bill.

A few extra steps can go a long way when it comes to cutting your grind on the grid. But why go through the trouble just to save a few bucks a month?

1. More money in your pocket. According to a recent article by USA Today, in 2010 the average American family spent $1,419 on electricity. That’s over $200 a month! Just shaving $20 off the monthly bill could result in an annual saving of $240, and a monthly reduction of $50 equates to $600 annually! Just think of what you could do with that money. A plane ticket? Weekend on the beach? Maybe that margarita maker you’ve always wanted?
2. Longer Lifetime on household items. Light bulbs, motors, even computers have a lifetime based on how much usage they get. Lowering your electric bill by turning off household items when they’re not in use means they will last longer and ultimately save you the money and headache of getting new ones.
3. Tax credits. For businesses and family households, making “green” modifications can earn you tax credits. Making your office or house more eco-friendly through the addition of solar panels, sustainable building materials or water saving devices can qualify you for government subsidies depending on the state. Not only does this mean a short term payoff, but the long term sustainability of these modifications will save you money for years to come.
4. Earth Friendly. Lowering your electric bill not only benefits you, but in the long run it benefits all of mankind. Lowering our consumption means we lower our dependency on fossil fuels. This decreases the pressures put on the environment through the building of new dams, coal burning power plants and everything that comes with them e.g., access roads, pipelines, power lines. A few simple changes by the masses would have a dramatic effect.

Lowering your electric bill can be done in a few simple steps and the reasons go far beyond saving a few extra bucks. To learn how you can actually reduce your bill and other ways to “go green”, check out the new class offered at The Institute for Corporate and Continuing Education. Hurry, classes will fill up fast!