Electricity causes pollution This chart shows where the U.S. gets its electricity. Note that most of it was from burning coal. (Source: Department of Energy ) How much pollution?

Here's a calculator which will show you how much pollution is created from your electrical use. The typical home accounts for more pollution than the typical car. ( source ) More on energy production

On a separate page we have info about how much fuel is required to produce electricity. Fan mail & success stories If I could bookmark only one energy website, it would be this one! Jenny Nazak, author of



I'm just dropping a quick note to thank your for your amazing electricity subsite. It's outstanding. I've been working to improve my finances for a while, and every little bit helps. I just posted about your Saving Electricity site on my site (Get Rich Slowly). I hope to steer others to the information you've provided. -- J.D. Roth, Get Rich Slowly If I could bookmark only one energy website, it would be this one! Jenny Nazak, author of Deep Green I'm just dropping a quick note to thank your for your amazing electricity subsite. It's outstanding. I've been working to improve my finances for a while, and every little bit helps. I just posted about your Saving Electricity site on my site (Get Rich Slowly). I hope to steer others to the information you've provided. - Andrew G.

I love your site, I have cut my oil bill in half by using space heaters which has really saved me money as a direct result of your advice.

We took a lot of advice from your web site last month. Got electric bill today. 30 days later & we have a $100 savings! the weather has been MUCH colder this month than last. THANK YOU! - Eileen Phillips & Cheryl Myers, Blackstone, VA I studied your site after deciding that I was determined to put an end to paying for (and wasting) lots of electricity. I bought a kilowatt meter to measure my usage. In the first month I dropped my from 578 kWh avg. to 197 kWh. This past month after replacing my 1980's fridge with a new one I was able to get down to 150 kilowatt-hours, and that includes my home office. My electric company lets you look at and compare the past 14 months worth of usage and bills online. I saved $50 this past month compared to last year and plan on saving more than $1000 for the year over 2004. Our rates are about 14 cents for delivery and usage not including the $7.36 customer charge, so this has made a big impact. So I just wanted express a quick 'thank you' for your site. I appreciate the depth of information and the ability to reference many other sites. best regards, Aaron Patt Thank you for making 'Saving Electricity.' I googled for a site about using the window units in my apartment more efficiently (I'm used to central air) and after reading your site I've gone from running two window units and a fan on high and still being uncomfortably warm to sitting directly in front of a single fan, on low, and I'm a little chilly. I think I'm also going to purchase clothes drying rack. I have a wacky idea about trying to use my fan and hanging my clothes up to dry in conjunction.... -- Veronica Pare Thank you for making 'Saving Electricity.' I googled for a site about using the window units in my apartment more efficiently (I'm used to central air) and after reading your site I've gone from running two window units and a fan on high and still being uncomfortably warm to sitting directly in front of a single fan, on low, and I'm a little chilly. I think I'm also going to purchase clothes drying rack. I have a wacky idea about trying to use my fan and hanging my clothes up to dry in conjunction.... What an AMAZING web site! How grateful I am that you were kind enough to share your vast knowledge on saving electricity. I can certainly understand why you are no longer taking any more questions. You've written the definitive guide to all things electric. That anyone could take offense or consider you less than reasonable for retiring on the subject is unbelievable. Those of us who are concerned about the environment - and "living below our means" - salute you. Thank you for your generosity! -- David Davis Great web site. Thank you for you sharing your knowledge. (Saved me from the surge suppression scam.) -- Liz McLean

see more fan mail & success stories... Troubleshooting Home Electricity

The Circuit Detective is an electrician with practical tips about how to troubleshoot home electrical problems.