Every homeowner or renter has received his or her energy bill and recoiled in horror at least once. "How can we cut costs without freezing/sweating to death?" "How can I reduce my dependence on electric appliances, but still stay comfortable?" are all questions we've asked ourselves at least once.
The good news is that there are many solutions to cope with the rising power costs. Some solutions are found in surprising places: The appliance that may not be turned "on" but is still running up your hydro bill. Energy auditors like Green$avers call it:
The Phantom Load
Many appliances use electricity to power up even though they are not in use. For example, your clock radio may not be playing the radio, but it's still plugged in and is using up your bill just to stay on and keep time. If you have a coffee pot with a timer, it may be time to consider a model with an "on/off" switch and nothing more.
Digital clocks will eat its way through your utility bill more than analog ones, but on their own they're not as bad when you count all the appliances added up together in your house. Everyone has at least one small appliance that they can't live without and that has a timer function; this article will focus on the cases where you can replace your energy-eaters with more energy-efficient models.
Use Power Bars to Reduce Your Hydro Bill
Having people remove some items that can't help but have "ready on" or digital clock functions in them would be counter-productive, if not challenging. One way to keep VCRs, DVD players and television sets from their silent but deadly attack on your hydro bill is to use a power bar or surge protector with an off switch.
By plugging your entertainment system into a single power bar with an off switch, you can have television set warmed up and ready to go without going through the bother of unplugging each and every component before use. Just turn it on before you're ready to watch TV or listen to music, and if you remember to turn your power bar off after you're done.
Compact Fluorescent Bulbs: A Bright Idea
An easy way to avoid high costs is an easy one: Switch your bulbs from incandescent or halogen bulbs to Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. When CFL's originally became available, previous concerns included the white glare the light provided, or the amount of time some may take to warm up to light up. Current models include warmer tones by adding some yellow to their casing, giving the "warmer" look that we associate with incandescent light. They are becoming increasing more efficient in the speed they take to light up, and more light sockets are starting to accommodate the energy efficient models of bulbs.
Many are put off from CFL use because of their cost in comparison to incandescent ones; however the a single 15 watt bulb gives the same amount of light as a sixty watt incandescent one: On average, it will pay itself off roughly in one week. Consider as well, that the average incandescent bulb lasts roughly a year, and CFL's can last to up to five years depending on use, you are also sparing yourself that much more hassle in buying bulbs.
Take Inventory of Your Home
Check out each room, and make a list of how many appliances are hooked in, and what kind of light source is used. Go through each room with a pad and paper and write down how many lamps or lights you have. Write down how many watts each lamp or light takes; when you'll compare how many kilowatts per hour you are being charged, you may want to consider making a few small changes for long-term savings on your bill.
Naomi Szeben - Six-time Editor's Choice Award winner Naomi Szeben puts life into "green and simple living" articles for Suite 101.com. She graduated ...
