5 Electricity Saving Tips – Keep Cool & Save Money this Summer!
5 Electricity Saving Tips
As the temperature rises on those heat-soaked summer days, so do the costs of cooling your home. Here are 5 simple electricity saving tips to beat the rising costs of keeping cool this summer.
Tip #1 – Turn off Lights & Heat Generating Appliances
Turn off lights and heat-generating appliances until you absolutely need to use them. Internal heat is generated by appliances, electronic devices, and lighting which causes your air conditioner to run longer.
Tip #2 – Use a Switch-able Surge Power Bar
Put your entertainment unit components on a switch-able surge protection power bar and use that “off-switch”. Many electronic devices continue to consume some power even when they are turned off. A way to turn off this phantom power is to plug your devices into a switch-able surge power bar and turn the bar off. This will shut down these devices completely and you will benefit from the electricity savings.
Tip #3 – Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents; they produce the same light but use a fifth the energy and heat. By replacing the bulbs in your home you can take advantage of electricity savings of up to $80 for each bulb for the lifetime of that bulb. Imagine how much you could save by changing all the bulbs in your home!
Tip #4 – Move Lights away from Thermostats
Never position a heat-producing appliance (like a lamp or a fridge) near the thermostat. If you have an air conditioner, it will be working overtime to try to cool the house from the false temperature generated from the light bulb.
Tip #5 – Use a Ceiling Fan
Ceiling Fan for Electricity Savings
Use a Ceiling Fan. A ceiling fan can be a great investment for your home and allow you to use your air-conditioner less. This one appliance can make a room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler, and even the most power-hungry fan costs less than $10 a month to use if you keep it on for 12 hours a day. Ceiling fans are best, but a good portable fan can be very effective for electricity savings.
Keep in mind that installing a ceiling fan is not as simple as putting up a light fixture. Because of the extra weight and the constant movement, fans need to be installed in an ESA approved fan mounting box.
We recommend that a professional electrician install all ceiling fans as they require an electrical permit.
After your new fan is installed you will be pleasantly surprised at how much cooler the room feels. Your air conditioner will be running less and the initial investment can often be recuperated in less than 2 years.
Enjoy your summer by staying cool and saving money by using our electricity saving tips.
