It takes more electricity to heat the iron initially than to maintain the desired temperature. For safety's sake, turn the iron off if you are interrupted by the telephone or doorbell. Turn off the iron five minutes before you finish ironing and complete the job with the heat stored in the soleplate. Turn off TV's, stereos, and radios when no one is watching or listening to them. When blow-drying you hair, don't overdry.
Many blow dryers use as much energy as an electric toaster, and for longer periods.
Clean or replace the air filters on your appliances regularly. Clogged filters make them work harder. Turn off incandescent lights when you leave a room. This is particularly important in summer because lights produce heat when they're on. Don't turn off fluorescent lights unless you'll be out of a room 15 minutes or more.