Many homeowners would be shocked and even upset to learn that the average house in the United States is only about 50% energy efficient. That means that you could be wasting about half of what you spend every month on electricity. And with the electric bill being most home’s largest utility bill, cutting it in half would be hefty savings. In fact, cutting that bill by only 25% or 30% would be a welcome savings for most homeowners. To get you on your way to enjoying these savings, our team of licensed electricians has offered a few tips to increase your home’s energy efficiency and decrease your electric bills.
Replace Old Appliances
Most homeowners have never counted the number of electric appliances in their house. But when you stop and think about it, there are easily a dozen. The kitchen is home to a refrigerator, oven, microwave, and maybe a dishwasher or added freezer. You also have a washer and dryer, water heater, and then there is the biggie, the HVAC system. But you also need to consider all of the massive televisions, computers and other entertainment features. Replacing these items with Energy Star-rated appliances will save you money each month. The items need to be more energy efficient than other appliances in the category to earn the Energy Star rating. Each appliance or device has specific criteria it must meet, ranging from offering 10% energy savings to an impressive 90%. Check out your options for Energy Star appliances as you begin to replace the often-used fixtures of your home to save money and energy.
Stop The Energy Zombies
Would you be surprised to learn that you can save around $200 a year just by unplugging devices around your home? We do not mean that you need to reduce the amount of time you are using them. Just unplug them when you are not using them. Devices with a digital display that is always on or have a remote use power constantly. Even when you have the cable box, or DVD player turned off, it is sipping power to keep that clock on and be ready to turn on via a remote. The same is true for the coffee maker, toaster, or any other device that you leave plugged in when not in use. Pull those plugs and watch your energy bill drop.
Use Appliances Wisely
We all love that there is a machine to wash our dishes and clothing. But that luxury can cost much money unless you use these tools wisely. Never run an entire laundry cycle to wash a single outfit. You are wasting electricity, water, and a lot of money. Instead, only run these appliances when they are fully loaded. This simple step will save money on your electric and water bills. Washing clothes in cold water will also lower your utility bill and add to the life of your water heater. Also, never run the drying cycle on your dishwasher, which consumes a massive amount of power.
Finally, think about the weather before deciding what to cook for dinner. In the summer months, cook outside on the grill whenever possible. Baking or roasting food indoors raises the temperature and makes your AC work even harder. But in the winter, bake to your heart’s content and let that residual heat take the pressure off of your furnace.
These simple yet smart tips from the pros at Money Electric will help you make your home more efficient and save you a few bucks. Call (501) 426-5624 if you need more information or want to schedule an electrical inspection to evaluate your home’s efficiency.