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Feb 6, 2024, 8:28 am712 ptsYour bill doesn't have to be a drain on your finances - there are ways you can reduce its burden without incurring unnecessary debt. Unplug devices that aren't being used; these drain "phantom power", also known as standby or idle current. Talk to your power provider about time-of-use rate plans that enable you to shift energy usage during off-peak hours.
1. Turn Off the Lights
Turning off lights when not in use is crucial in mitigating climate change and saving both energy and money. As such, Cornell has started encouraging their students to switch off the lights when not needed - while there have also been various energy saving movements across the nation.
The amount of electricity a light bulb consumes depends on various factors. Wattage, type and duration all play an integral part. A 40-watt bulb uses 0.04kWh in one hour - not much but can add up over time! You can determine its value by looking at your electric utility's per kilowatt-hour rate; which should be found on recent utility bills.
Having many incandescent, halogen, or CFL bulbs in your home can quickly add up to an expensive electricity bill, so it is wise to switch over to LED bulbs which are highly energy efficient. To save even more money on electricity usage we suggest investing in smart power strips like Wiser which track energy use and automatically turn off lights when not required.
2. Turn Off the AC
At home in the heat of summer, it may be tempting to keep the air conditioner running constantly in an effort to stay comfortable. Unfortunately, however, this requires significant amounts of energy consumption that increases your electricity bill considerably. By employing strategies to use your air conditioner more efficiently while still meeting comfort needs without incurring unnecessary costs, you could potentially save both money and energy!
Some homeowners take measures to save energy costs by turning off their air conditioning when leaving for the day, however this can result in an overheated home that takes longer to cool when their AC returns later on. It also puts strain on their system leading to higher bills and faster wear-and-tear on its components.
As temperatures heat up this summer, an excellent way to conserve energy is through ceiling fans - they use far less energy than central air conditioning systems and could help lower your electricity bill significantly.
3. Install a Smart Thermostat
Programmable thermostats are one of the easiest and cost-effective ways to reduce energy usage in your home. By automatically adjusting heating and cooling according to a pre-set schedule, they ensure the temperature in your home stays comfortable without you needing to think about it. Energy experts estimate that for every degree lower your thermostat settings are, one percent can be saved off of your bill.
Programmable thermostats not only save you money, but they can save time and effort too by eliminating the need to manually adjust your home's temperature every day. A programmable thermostat can be programmed to automatically reduce temperatures during hours when you are at work or away, then gradually warm it back up before your wakeup or arrival home in the evening.
Programmable thermostats come in various formats, from single-program thermostats with only one program to multi-week models that offer several separate settings on different days of the week. If you aren't sure which type of thermostat would best fit into your home environment, contact an HVAC technician and get professional advice as to the ideal choice for you.
Another effective strategy for making sure the unit operates efficiently is setting it on a schedule that accommodates everyone's daily routine and sleep patterns; for instance, setting higher temperature settings during morning wake-up time and bedtime to make sure the house remains comfortably warm for school or bed. If you have children at home consider setting the temperature higher when they get up in the morning/bedtime so they feel ready when ready for school/bedtime respectively.
Smart thermostats are more than mere gadgets; they're gateways to more energy efficiency and lower bills. By providing information about your home's usage patterns, a smart thermostat can provide key details that allow you to refine schedules or make additional tweaks that save even more money - plus important safety and security features such as geofencing or remote control!
Heating and cooling account for 41 to 63 percent of total bills, so an energy-saving thermostat can make a real difference to how you spend on utility costs. These devices are designed to learn your schedule, preferences, and behavior before automatically setting energy-saving temperatures when sleeping or away.
They even feature room sensors which measure room temperatures specifically so you only heat or cool specific rooms instead of spending money heating or cooling entire spaces at the same time - eliminating hot or cold spots! Some models even feature voice commands and geofencing features for added convenience!
Installing a smart thermostat can be an easy and straightforward process; most models include detailed installation instructions. You can either do it yourself or seek professional installation services from local HVAC providers; the latter option may save money over time on utilities bills.
4. Install a Smart Power Strip
Installing a smart power strip is an efficient and cost-saving way to manage and monitor your devices remotely, saving money on electricity while remotely controlling and monitoring them. They come equipped with features designed to reduce energy waste such as timers that automatically switch off equipment at specified times, remote switches enabling Wi-Fi control over remote switches and master controlled strips that turn on and off depending on one connected device's status.
Many electronics still consume some energy when switched off - known as "phantom power". By plugging related items into a smart power strip and controlling it all with one switch, you can eliminate this strøm drain and save up to $100 annually in energy costs. Smart power strips can be especially helpful in cutting energy usage in kitchens, home offices and living rooms.
When purchasing a smart power strip, consider the number of outlets and whether or not USB ports will be required. Look for models equipped with built-in circuit breakers to protect valuable electronics from surges. Models featuring adjustable time delays allow for customizing when it turns on and off.
Choose a model with remote access and integration into your voice assistant, smart home ecosystem or other devices. Be sure to review firmware updates regularly through the smart strip's respective app to ensure peak performance of your device. Creating personalized schedules and automation settings for devices will help maximize device use while decreasing energy consumption; are sure to review them frequently to keep things optimized based on individual usage patterns.