You know all about the vampires who will visit your home on Halloween looking for treats. But how much do you know about the vampires inside your house playing tricks on you? We’re talking about the energy vampires or energy suckers that cause you to gasp when you open the electric bill every month.
For the moment, let’s assume you’ve taken care of the big things like upgrading your insulation, having the most efficient HVAC systems you can afford, and buying products carrying the Energy StarⓇ symbol when replacing home appliances.
Your friends at Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air want you to know there are several small things you can do to help you save even more money. You always need to remember that many devices use electricity, even when they are turned off. They are the true energy vampires. Individually the amount of electricity may be small, but when you add it up the folks at energy.gov say they can add 10% to your monthly bill.
UNPLUG. UNPLUG. UNPLUG.
This doesn’t work for every device in your home, but what about those TV’s in the guest rooms? Or the DVD players and cable boxes connected to them? They don’t get used very often, so unplug them until they are needed.
USE POWER STRIPS
They allow you to turn the power on and off to clusters of devices so you don’t have to do each one individually.
BETTER YET USE SMART POWER STRIPS
This type of power strip has outlets that can sense when a device (printer, computer, etc.) goes into standby mode. When it does, the smart outlet shuts down automatically. There are even smart power strips with motion detectors. When no one is in a room for a certain amount of time the strip turns off. You can also find power strips with Wi-Fi technology, so you can control them with your smartphone.
USE SMART PLUGS (YES THEY REALLY EXIST)
Thanks to the Internet of Things, there are now outlets available that are also Wi-Fi enabled and can talk to your mobile devices when you want to turn them on or off.
CURB IDLE TIME
Make sure to use the proper settings on your devices. Use the sleep mode on your computer if you’re going to be away from it. Don’t leave that video game paused unless you’re sure you are coming right back to it. Pausing it for a long time uses more energy. Even when it comes to all of those Energy StarⓇ appliances you now have in your kitchen, unplugging them when you leave for the day is a good idea. Not only to save money but also for safety. Although rare, things like toasters, coffee makers, and toaster ovens can malfunction and pose a fire hazard.
Whenever you need an electrician in Montgomery, AL just call Dixie Electric, Plumbing & Air and we will do everything we can to drive the energy vampires out of your home. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more great HVAC, plumbing, and electrical advice.
