Have you ever been surprised at how much your electric usage changed from one month to the next? Here’s what might have happened.
Air conditioning and heating are some of the most energy-intensive activities in your home. You may also run appliances like space heaters, dehumidifiers, or hot tubs depending on the time of year. Don’t forget Halloween and Christmas decorations, which aren’t weather-dependent but may get plugged in around the time it gets colder.
ENERGY-SAVING TIPS:
Use fans instead of air conditioning (this works for heat too—set your fan to rotate clockwise to push warm air back down).
Use window shades to block the sun when it’s hot, or open them to let it warm your home when it’s cold.
Change your thermostat by a few degrees so your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard.
A leaky water heater, older HVAC system, or other appliance in need of maintenance may be overworking itself to keep up.
ENERGY-SAVING TIPS:
Inspect your appliances regularly to make sure they’re running efficiently.
Keep your HVAC system’s airflow clear by vacuuming vents and moving furniture out of the way, and keep its filter clean so it doesn’t have to work as hard.
Every new appliance or gadget that uses electricity, from a refrigerator to a video game system, will cause your usage to rise. Even when turned off, anything that’s plugged into an outlet can still draw electricity (we call this a phantom energy load).
ENERGY-SAVING TIPS:
When shopping for new appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR® label to help you save electricity.
When practical, unplug devices and chargers from wall outlets to keep them from drawing extra electricity.
You can review your current and prior electric usage via SmartHub - it's easy!
Click here for directions and video instructions.