Where did those 9,133 kilowatt hours go? 

The average Utah resident uses 9,133 kilowatt hours (kwh) of electricity each year, at a cost of $550.  For the average homeowner, over half of that electricity was gobbled up by two things:  the air conditioner and the refrigerator!  The chart below shows how other appliances contributed to your home electricity use: 

Utah Residential Electricity Use

  
Reducing Our individual electrical consumption, even by 10%, will reduce air pollution, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, conserve scarce energy resources, and save money.  If every City employee saved just 10% (900 kwh/year), we would conserve 2.7 million kwh, save $162,000, and avoid 1,200 tons of CO2 emissions each year.   

Here are six tips to significantly cut electrical bills, and reduce pollution from electricity:

1. Replace air conditioners with evaporative coolers (or limit use of air conditioner).
2. Replace older windows with energy efficient windows.
3. Increase insulation in attics and walls.
4. Turn off lights, TVs and radios wherever you can (this alone can get you more than 10% savings).
5. Use a clothesline instead of an electric clothes dryer.
6. Replace refrigerators (especially older models) with Energystar refrigerators.

Both Rocky Mountain Power and Questar gas have rebate programs that will help you pay for these energy efficient upgrades and appliances. Here are the links to their rebate pages.  Note that you can use rebates from both companies on some products (like insulation).  The double-rebate can make some improvements almost free! 

Rocky Mountain Power:  http://www.homeenergysavings.net/utah/forms.html

Questar (insulation, windows)http://www.thermwise.com/home/Weatherization.html

Questar (appliances)http://www.thermwise.com/home/ApplianceRebates.html 

Both companies also offer free energy audits to help you save money and energy.  Go to http://www.rockymountainpower.net//Navigation/Navigation53172.html and to http://www.thermwise.com/home/Audit.html  if you want an audit.