Electric bills have sky-rocketed, especially in the past couple of
years. Just like the prices of other commodities, energy bills also seem
to be on an upward trend. This means that electricity bills are likely
to increase in the future.
Electric bills on the rise
To combat the rise in the energy charges, there are few things that
we need to keep in mind. First of all, we need to be aware of our
electricity consumption. The amount of energy we use or rather, are used
to consuming, is an important factor that often goes unnoticed. Keeping
a track of this will help us make a conscious effort towards attempting
to control the usage and eventually, reduce it.
Secondly, we need to make energy restrictions or form go-green goals
and remember them too. Controlling electric usage leads to efforts in
reducing electricity bills, and reduction in energy bills leads to cost
saving, and of course a smaller hole in the pocket!
Home appliances love electricity
Among all home appliances, it is the HVAC systems that consume the
most amount of electricity. Air conditioners, water heaters,
refrigerators, and dryers are some appliances that consume the most
electricity. Being aware of the amount of consumption and consciously
reducing them will help in a great deal of savings.
Some useful tips to help reduce energy consumption of these appliances are elucidated below.
Maintain the temperature: Air conditioners consume
tremendous amounts of electricity. All we need to do is manage the
temperatures right in summer and winter. Try setting the temperature
around 78°F in summer and set temperature down during the winter.
Remember, every degree counts! This habit can help in reducing up to 3%
of our energy costs.
Use devices with latest technology: An electronic, programmable
thermostat is the need of every air conditioner. We need to seriously
consider purchasing a programmable electronic thermostat for our HVAC
systems if we do not already have one. The device is based on the latest
technology and allows us to set it in such a way that the temperature
will automatically adjust according to the timings set. For e.g. a
programmable thermostat can be used to allow our indoor temperature to
rise when nobody is at home and commence cooling at the time set,
usually before the arrival of the family members. The programmable
thermostat can also reduce energy consumption when we are sleeping.
Periodic maintenance of air conditioners: We have
never given a thought to how much we could save with a little awareness
and restraint. Regular air conditioner servicing can help us save $65
annually. Employ a professional HVAC contractor to periodically check
your HVAC systems as well as other electrical appliances. Periodic
maintenance keeps the systems healthy and healthy systems consume lesser
electricity that those that are not periodically maintained.
Replace old air conditioners: If the air conditioner
is over 12 years old, we need to replace it with a new one. Latest
models from ENERGY STAR have high seasonal energy efficiency ratio
(SEER), a unit used to measure the efficiency of the air conditioner.
The higher the SEER, the more efficient will be the system. We need to
choose air conditioner with SEER rating of 13 or 14.
Position the air-conditioner: It is essential that
our air conditioners are protected from sunlight. If the air conditioner
is positioned in a place that receives direct sunlight, we need to
block the direct sunlight without impeding the airflow or enclosing the
system. We could plant tall trees or shrubs, or consider placing an
awning to protect it from sunlight. Protecting the air conditioning unit
from direct sunlight can save up to 10% electricity.
Intelligent shopping: The next time we go shopping
for electric appliances; let us look for those with the Energy Star
label. These come with the assurance that they have been tested against
certain energy-efficiency guidelines. Energy Star claims that their
appliances can reduce our annual energy bills by 30%.
Now this is too good a deal to miss!
