Technology 3 min read

5 Ways to cut Energy Costs and Consumption at Home

MPIX | Shutterstock.com

MPIX | Shutterstock.com

You have “room to maneuver” in your home to save money on energy bills while also reducing your negative toll on the environment.

A few years ago, according to a report by the Digital Power Group, high-tech gadgets and new information technologies are also major consumers of energy.

Sponsored by two of the big coal industry lobby groups, the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) and the National Mining Association (NMA), this study states that an iPhone uses more energy per year than the average refrigerator.

The findings of the study were critiqued because, obviously, smartphone use varies greatly between owners.

What’s more, for the iPhone, the “361 kWh per year” includes battery charging, Wi-Fi connectivity, and data flow, while, for the refrigerator, the “322 kWh” ignores the energy needed to produce foods filling drawers and shelves.

Energy Hogs Hiding in Plain Sight in Your Home

Choosing grid-friendly appliances to save energy is good, but we’re maybe setting our sights on the wrong targets.

There are many power-hungry devices that consume more energy than you think.

an #iPhone uses more #energy per year than a refrigeratorClick To Tweet

“Anything that gets that hot without fire, that’s from the devil!” Ellen DeGeneres’ joke about microwaves alludes to tech-induced laziness, but there may be some truth to it.

Although used for only 70 hours a year, a microwave burns as much as 35 kWh during the rest of the time (8,690 h) in “standby mode”.

Other than microwaves, the list of big energy consuming home appliances includes cable boxes, furnace fans, battery chargers, game consoles, and pool pumps.

Beyond identifying the most energy-consuming appliances in your home, there are some eco-friendly practices that help you to cut down on your energy expenses and reduce the impact on the environment.

5 Ways to cut Energy Costs and Consumption at Home

1. Unplug “Vampire” Appliances

It’s not enough to just turn off electrical appliances and devices when you leave a room; unplug those that remain in standby mode, including: TVs, Blu-ray & DVD players, game consoles, computers, coffee makers, and microwaves.

https://youtu.be/28YK4CRhbU0

2. Replace old Appliances

You should consider upgrading your domestic equipment if it’s showing its age and use energy-efficient appliances and electronics that are readily available these days.

3. Rethink Your House Lighting

About 5% of the power bill of an average household is due to lighting. This may not seem like much, but you can still address lighting to reduce energy consumption even more.

Incorporate natural lights (daylighting), and when and where artificial light is needed, use energy-efficient lights like LED and CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights) bulbs.

4. Try Alternative Energy Sources

By taking advantage of some tax incentives, and investing in renewables to power your house, you will save more in the long run or even eliminate power bills altogether.

Check out our articles on the state of net metering in your area.

Maybe you’d consider a micro-generation system, like a rooftop solar panel, or a small domestic wind turbine.

5. Assess Your Home Energy-Efficiency

A home energy audit, based on a detailed analysis, evaluates the energy performance and the sources of energy loss in your home.

Such a professional diagnosis will help you improve the energy quality of your home and reduce your expenses.

How do you evaluate your home energy use? 

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Zayan Guedim

Trilingual poet, investigative journalist, and novelist. Zed loves tackling the big existential questions and all-things quantum.

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