A good electrician should not just install and maintain wiring and control equipment. Their services need not to stop there. In these times, a good electrician should also give you tips on how to save on your energy bill. However, we know not all of them can fulfill that role so you should definitely turn to our Top 10 lists. Our Top 10 Electricians in your area are not just skilled, they’re also knowledgable about energy saving tips. In the meantime though, here are some simple measures you should take to save electricity and, in turn, lower your energy bill.
Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs
We suggest you switch from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lightbulbs or CFLs. This is one of the quickest, easiest, and most guaranteed ways to save money. Why so? CFLs use about 75 percent less energy and last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. This can save you up to $35 in electric costs over the lifetime of each bulb.
Energy Star Appliances
When you shop for appliances, look for the Energy Star label. If you do purchase one and it has that label on it, it means the appliance meets certain energy-efficiency guidelines. The average household spends $2,000 each year on energy bills. Energy Star says that appliances bearing its label can cut those bills by 30 percent.
Your A/C Unit
An estimated half of an average home’s annual energy bill is spent on heating and cooling. The best way to keep your air conditioner running at peak efficiency then, is to spend a couple of hours each year on basic maintenance. This includes, but is not limited to, cleaning and straightening the fins, changing the filter and lubricating the motor. Also, if you have central air conditioning and/or heat, check the vents in your home because some may be closed. Yes, this happens and a lot of people do find that their vents were in fact, closed. Simply open them up and see the difference in terms of temperature and in your energy bill.
Your Heating System
A rule of thumb here is: stay warm and cut costs. Studies have shown that turning your thermostat down by 1°C can save you as much as $80 per year. Also, keeping your heating on constantly on a low heat could potentially save you more money than switching it on and off for big blasts of heat. This is where getting to know and understand the timer settings on your thermostat will really pay off.
Other Electronics
We recently learned that most appliances and electronics don’t have a very high energy cost. In fact, they have been found to only account for about 17% of energy use in the average household. That being said, some devices have a more significant impact than others and you should be careful with their excessive use. Some of these energy consuming electronics include:
- Modern video game systems
- Electric kettles
- Desktop computers
- Television sets
It ma be difficult to unplug each and every one of these electronics. So, we suggest that you stick everything you can on a power strip and turn off the power strip when not in use.
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