Money Makers, Money Savers: You've Got the Power

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Centreville, Va. (WUSA) -- Is your television set plugged in right now? How about your computer? Your child's video game player? How you answer these questions could be costing or saving you money.

9NEWS NOW'S Living Smart team recently visited the Little family in Centreville, Virginia. An energy savings expert tagged along.

Between 3 kids, 6 televisions, 3 computers, the Little family is spending a lot of money on electricity.

Dominion Virginia Power's Dave Martin has the bottom line on their usage.

"In a week's time they've used 1006 kilowatts."

That's $73 worth of energy usage in just 8 days. At this rate their monthly bill could near--or top--$300.

Weatherization specialist Bob Fulton has some money rescue tips for the Littles and everyone else out there. It starts with a paper test at the front door.

"Just open the door, place the paper in there. If you can pull it out without too much difficulty," says Fulton. "You might want to check the seal round the door."

Setting your thermostat above 69-degrees is also a budget buster. Going 69 or lower can really make a huge difference in your power bill.

As for the light bulbs in your house, use compact fluorescent bulbs. Those are the curly ones you see at the home stores. They may cost a little more than regular light bulbs, but they save you a ton of money in your electric bill. They also last longer.

"These new compact fluorescent lights use 60 to 70% less electricity. And they last 10 times longer--5 to 7 years," says Fulton.

As for the pipes in your house, you might want to think about putting insulation around the pipes. Especially the hot water heater.

"Take the insulation and put it on the hot water side and seal it up real good to insulate that hot water pipe," says Fulton.

Check your furnace filter once a month as well. A dirty filter can cause problems for your heating system and cut down on the amount of heat and air coming into the living area.

NOW, here's the biggie: turn off AND unplug that television set, cable box, DVD player, XBox, and computer when you are done with it! These devices are what Fulton calls, "energy vampires."

They just suck power--even when not in use--but still plugged into the socket. It's a lifestyle change. But it will also put more change in your pocket!

Here's another advantage to unplugging your small appliances-fire safety! If your house gets hit by lightning, or you get a sudden power surge, these appliances could catch fire if plugged in.