What are Energy Vampires?
Energy vampires are electronic appliances and devices that consume energy even when they’re not in use. The most common energy vampires are appliances that have a standby mode, which requires that they maintain a constant power draw. The following appliances and devices are some of the worst culprits when it comes to draining power:
- TVs
- Printers
- Central heating furnace
- Gaming consoles
- Microwaves and ovens
- Routers and modems
- Phones
- Set-top boxes
Luckily, there are several ways that you can stop these devices from consuming power, which can help save you money in the long run. The brute force way is to unplug these devices when you’re not using them.
Unfortunately, this can become a bit of a pain when you have to unplug your entire media center every time you stop using it. You can avoid this issue by plugging all these devices into a single power strip, which you then turn off when not in use.
More and more companies are making products that have lower standby power usage, and some ENERGY STAR appliances rely less on standby power as well. Be sure to check your Ohio electricity rates to find out how much you can save by switching to these products.
What Appliances Cost the Most on Your Energy Bill?
Central air conditioner and heat pump
If you use central cooling or electric heating, you’ll notice a considerable spike in your energy bill when you use these appliances. A typical air conditioner can consume up to 15 kW per hour, which translates to around $22 per day if you use it for the majority of the day.
Clothes dryer
Clothes dryers use electric elements to generate heat to dry clothes. Most clothes dryers are very energy inefficient and can use up to 4 kW per hour. Most people don’t run their dryers for the entire day, though, and clothes dryers will often cost around $1 per load to use.
Water heating
Water heaters consume a lot of electricity, up to 4 kW per hour. It can take up to an hour to heat a tank of water, which you can easily deplete in one luxurious shower session. The best way to save money on your water heater is to reduce your water heater temperature, which can save up to 3% of your monthly energy cost.
Tips to Save on Your Energy Bill
When budgeting, you’ll notice that your energy bill is probably one of your most substantial monthly expenses, especially if you already buy the cheapest gas in Ohio. Luckily, there are several ways you can reduce your energy usage, which will lower your energy bill at the end of the month.
Install energy-efficient windows
Single-pane windows are terrible at insulating homes. They will often let hot air in during summer, which will lead to increased use of your air conditioning system. Thicker, energy-efficient windows are better insulators. They also help to prevent sunlight from raising the temperature inside your home. Installing these windows can result in a massive reduction in your HVAC usage, and subsequent savings on your energy bill. When looking at windows, be sure that you’re comparing Ohio apples to apples in terms of size, cost, and how much they will save you.
Use smart thermostats
Smart thermostats are excellent at controlling your energy usage. These devices can monitor the ambient temperature and will automatically turn themselves on or off as needed. Smart thermostats for water heaters can also save a lot of money by switching off the heater when not in use.
Unplug energy vampires
It’s always a good idea to unplug electronics when they’re not in use to prevent them from slowly consuming energy. If you have many devices in the same space, use a power strip and unplug that instead.
Cut back on clothes dryer use
Hang drying your clothes has several benefits, apart from the fresh, clean smell that they acquire. The sun is a great disinfecting agent and can help bleach away unsightly stains that may otherwise not come out. If it’s a sunny day, it’s better to hang your clothes outside than to use a clothes dryer.
Conclusion
The first step of money management is to control your expenses. Reducing your energy bill is not only good for the environment; it’s a great way to save money as well.