5 Energy Suckers In Your Home
Jul, 31 2013 04:07
When people think of energy efficiency, they think of turning off lights and keeping the refrigerator door closed. But there are a lot of other things in your house that are a drain on the environment and your energy bills that you probably haven’t thought of.
1) Televisions
Even though TV’s have gotten slimmer, there are now more of them around – an average of 3 per household. And even though they are more energy efficient with LCD and LED models, they are bigger, which offsets the energy efficiency. When you go to buy a new TV, make sure that you get the most energy efficient model.
2) Cable Boxes
More than 80% of homes in the US have cable or satellite television, and energy use continues to go up with DVRs. The good news is that not only are these items becoming more energy efficient, but the move towards digital content will help in this effort as well.
3) Computers
Energy Star standards for more efficient "active" and "sleep" modes in computers have helped make these devices more efficient, but like with televisions, there are just more of them around now, and more of us are plugged in more often. What can you do? Make sure you unplug your computer at night or if you go away, since they still draw power when they plugged in, even if they are turned off.
4) Video Game Consoles
Like computers and TVs, video game consoles have gotten more efficient over the years, but they’ve also gotten a lot more popular, so there are more of them around, and they are usually left on all the time. Unplug it when you’re not using it to save yourself a little money.
5) Miscellaneous Energy Loads
Think of all the rechargeable items in your home, from cellular phones to rechargeable batteries to electric toothbrushes to power tools and more. And while you may think everyone has moved on to cell phones, think again. In the US, the cordless phone is responsible for about half the energy consumption of all rechargeable devices in the home.
We Can Help You Save Energy!
We know you're not going to give up your TV, your video games or you cell phones. But knowing where your energy goes is the first step to lowering your bills. Maybe you won’t unplug your TV every night, but there are lots of simple and easy things you can do to have a big impact on the energy efficiency of your home. Contact us at 1-800-309-6006 or visit us at buildingenergypros.com to find out more.
