As the world is in the midst of an ongoing energy crisis, people are looking for ways to reduce electricity consumption. Here are five instant changes you can make to reduce your electricity bill: Doing your dishes by hand instead of relying on a dishwasher is a great way to reduce energy usage, although it is slightly more inconvenient. Avoid overcrowding your fridge and freezer as giving the appliance too much to keep cold means it uses more energy to do its job. Clothes dryers use up a ton of electricity, so when possible, you should line or air-dry your laundry. Despite what many cookbooks say, you do not need to preheat the oven. It uses a lot of energy and does not affect the dish's result. While ironing may be a necessity, if you can reduce your ironing time to one big weekly session, it will save you money in the long term.