INDIANAPOLIS -- Life is busy for the Herman family. With a lot going on, they use a lot of electricity to keep the family running, and as the cost of electricity goes up, it's getting harder for a lot of people to pay the power bill.

“We just figured out today we average about $250 a month," said homeowner Steve Herman, noting that his electric bill has gone down a bit since the winter months.

Still, that high electric bill could be a lot lower, according to energy expert Eric Burch, of the Indiana Department of Energy and Defense.

Call 6 Investigator Dan Spehler had Burch go with him through the Hermans' home to see what they might be doing wrong.

Light Bulbs

Instead of old 60-watt incandescent bulbs, Burch recommends an energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulb, or CFL, which experts agree can lower bills by an average of $22 a year.

Steve's wife, Jenny Herman, said it took a while to get used to the lower light output, but she was happy to see how the lights use less power.

"You can really see the difference," she said. "It's worth it."

Unplug! Unplug! Unplug!

Experts such as Burch contend that the big problem in most homes is that many people simply leave electronic appliances and equipment plugged in and running.

"There's a culture in our society, of having access to things being instantly on," Burch said. "But there's power flowing at all times when it's plugged in."

Burch recommends unplugging things like televisions and computers when they are not in use. How much will it save? Call 6 checked it out with some special energy measurement devices, which measure the wattage being used by anything in your home, and how much it costs to keep it running.

What did we find? The TV costs an estimated $6.45 per month when constantly plugged in. The computer -- $5.46 a month. Even little things like chargers for cell phones and power tools can make a difference. The charger we tested would cost an estimated $2.10 a month to stay continuously plugged in.

"It all adds up -- $20, $30, $50 for the whole year, perhaps. (If) you're not using it, why power it? Why pay for it?" Burch said.

Online Tools

More information is available online to help homeowners. More about the products 6News used to test the Hermans' home is available from the SmartHome company Web site, including more information on the Kill-A-Watt and Watts Up? measurement devices.

There is also more advice online from the Indiana Department of Energy and Defense, and from IPL's Web site and Duke Energy's Web site.