How to Save Energy and Money - Reduce Electricity Use

As technology advanced over the years, you may have noticed something else on the rise – your electric bill. If you live in a typical American home, your appliances and electronics likely account for about 20 percent of your energy bills. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce electricity use in your home and help bring this bill back to a more affordable level.

High Energy Appliances

From computers to dishwashers, below is a list of appliances that generally use a significant amount of electricity:

• Washing machines and dryers
• Refrigerators and freezers
• Air conditioners
• Dishwashers
• Televisions
• Home Audio Equipment (Speakers, Stereo Systems, etc.)
• Computers
• DVD Players

Although you can’t control the energy consumption of some of these appliances, like your refrigerator, there are several ways to limit the amount of energy used by your other electronics.

Reduce Electricity Use

The following tips will help you better understand how to reduce electricity use in your home to save money and energy:

• Power-Controlling Devices – Since appliances older than 1990 use more electricity than newer ones, it’s smart to install power-controlling devices if your home contains out-dated appliances. These devices apply and regulate the proper amount of power to the appliance’s motor, allowing the motor to operate cooler and at its peak efficiency.

• Standby Power – It’s easy to forget that many appliances consume electricity even when they’re turned off. This type off electricity is known as standby power, and is necessary for appliances like your refrigerator. A simple solution for your other appliances and electronics, like your printer or DVD player, is to unplug them when they aren’t in use.

• Turning off Your Computer – It’s no secret that computers consume a significant amount of energy when left on for extended periods of time, such as overnight. Although the machine’s sleep mode will reduce this energy consumption, it’s best to shut down your computer completely if you aren’t using it for more than two hours.

• Using Power Strips – Plugging a group of appliances into a power strip will also help you reduce electricity use. For example, plugging your computer, monitor, printer, and speakers all into the same power strip will reduce the electricity they draw from using many outlets at once.

 

What are some ways you reduce electricity use in your home to save money and energy?