Saving electricity is easier than you think. Simply changing some habits concerning which appliances and products and when you use them can get you significant savings on your electric bill. Besides the obvious and easy things like turning off lights when you leave a room, Fusion Electric has compiled several ways for you to save money this winter:
Get Rid of the Vampires – First, unplug electric items when they are not in use. TVs, computers, printers and scanners are only used sporadically. These devices suck energy 24 hours a day even when not in use which is where the get the nickname “vampire” electronics. If it’s inconvenient, to plug an unplug them each time, try attaching them to one easy-to-reach power strip so it’s a snap to power them on and off without searching for a plug and an outlet.
Be Aware of Peak Hours for Electric Use – Many homeowners don’t realize that power companies change electric costs based on the time of day. It can cost 30 to 60 percent more to use things like the oven, dryer or heater during peak hours of energy use. Every electric company defines peak hours slightly differently, but typically 6-10 am and 3-9 pm are considered peak. Weekends are considered off-peak. So if you can do your laundry on the weekends and lower your electric furnace in the evenings by a few degrees, it will lower your electric bill.
Lower Your Water Heater Temperature – If you have an electric water heater, you can lower the temperature to 125 degrees. You won’t notice much of a difference, but according to USAA While having it set to 140 degrees may seem nice while you are in the shower, most households are just fine with 120 degree water temperature and will not notice much of a difference. You can see a difference in your electric bill though. According to Energy.gov, (the U.S. Department of Energy’s website) for every 10 degree Fahrenheit reduction in temperature, you can save from 3%–5% on your water heating costs. Installing a tankless water heater can save you 24%-34% on electric bills.
A Bright Idea – change the light bulbs in your home from inefficient incandescent bulbs to energy saving incandescent, CFL (compact fluorescent lamps), or LED bulbs. Energy saving incandescent bulbs will save you about 25% more than regular incandescent bulbs. CFLs will save you about 75%, and LED bulbs will save you 75%-80%. Just to give you an idea of the monetary savings, Energy.gov estimates that upgrading 15 of the inefficient incandescent light bulbs in your home could save you about $50 per year.
Special Tips for Holiday Lighting – Get rid of old incandescent holiday lights and replace them with new LED holiday lights. Old strings can use up to 99% more energy than the new LED strings. Also, put your lights on a timer to reduce energy use.
If you live in the Kansas City area and need troubleshooting, safety inspections, service upgrades, or any indoor or outdoor electrical repairs or installations, call Fusion Electric.
