Save Money On Electricity

Even small changes in the home can help to conserve electricity and save money. Discover the top energy wasters in your home to create a plan for energy conservation.

Cutting back on monthly utilities, such as cable, phone, and electricity, is often a task people explore when trying to save money on their utility bills. Electricity is one expense that seems easy to control through energy conservation, but determining exactly how to achieve energy savings can be confusing.

Vampire Power

One electricity expense that gets talked about often is “vampire power” – the energy that some appliances continue to use, even when they are turned to the “off” position. Appliances and gadgets that suck up power include:

• Chargers are used for cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices that supply a charge, even when nothing is plugged into them
• Devices that are in stand-by mode all the time, like televisions
• Appliances like stoves and microwaves with clocks or other display screens that need continuous power.

Vampire power only accounts for about 5% of household usage. Still, if the monthly electric bill is $100, consumers can save $60 a year by eliminating vampire power. Although that may not seem like a significant savings, it doesn’t require much physical energy or inconvenience to simply turn things off.

One way to combat this leaking power is simply to unplug devices and appliances that suck up energy. Another is to put them on a power strip, which makes it easier to cut off standby power to several devices at once. The extent of annoyance and inconvenience this will cause depends on the device. For example, the microwave may take a few minutes to sync up, digital clocks may need to be reset, and the TV may not list current programming information until it syncs with the cable company.

Office Equipment

Computers, monitors, and peripherals also consume a significant amount of electricity, often in a wasteful manner. Many people leave their computers on all the time, thanks to a few old myths. One of them is that turning on a computer or monitor uses more power than leaving it on, which is not true. Another myth is that turning computers off and on is hard on the system and the hard drive.

In older computers, regular rebooting could indeed cause the hard drives to wear out; however, this isn’t a concern in modern systems. Another common misconception is that screen savers conserve energy. Leaving a monitor on with a screen saver running actually can use over 100 watts of power. Screen savers, particularly those with 3-D or other intensive graphics, can also consume PC memory. 

Even when turned off, computers and monitors use some power for standby features, but this is much smaller than the power consumption when they are left on. To completely cut out this power, unplug the machines or put them on a power switch.

Using the hibernate feature is another way to save power, but only if the computer doesn’t need to be accessed remotely; it’s impossible to “wake up” a sleeping computer through a standard Windows remote session.

Washers and dryers

Washing machines and dryers are among the largest energy-consuming appliances in a home. Families who do many loads of laundry in a week can reach significant energy savings by doing fewer loads or using an outdoor clothesline or an indoor drying rack.

Appliances

Replacing old appliances with Energy Star appliances is one way to save money on electricity. Energy Star appliances are more efficient and meet Department of Energy and EPA guidelines. The Energy Star program offers resources for purchasing energy-efficient homes and making improvements that help conserve electricity.

To determine the actual power consumption of an appliance, consider using a Kill-a-Watt to measure the power usage of devices. A comprehensive list of standby power usage can also help determine the amount of energy individual components consume.

Numerous changes, both large and small, can be implemented to conserve energy and reduce electricity costs. Even small savings can add up over the course of a year or more.

Frequently Asked Questions About Saving Money on Electricity

Q: What is vampire power, and how does it affect my electricity bill?
A: Vampire power refers to the electricity consumed by appliances and devices even when they are turned off or in standby mode. This can account for about 5% of household electricity usage, leading to unnecessary costs on your bill.

Q: How can I reduce vampire power in my home?
A: You can reduce vampire power by unplugging devices when not in use or using power strips to easily switch off multiple devices at once. This simple step can save you around $60 annually on your electricity bill.

Q: Are screen savers effective for saving energy on computers?
A: No, screen savers do not save energy. In fact, they can use over 100 watts of power and may consume additional computer resources. It’s better to turn off your monitor or use energy-saving modes.

Q: Is it better to leave my computer on or turn it off to save electricity?
A: Turning off your computer when not in use saves more energy than leaving it on. Modern computers are designed to handle frequent power cycles without damage.

Q: How can I save energy when using washers and dryers?
A: You can save energy by reducing the number of loads, using outdoor clotheslines or indoor drying racks, and choosing energy-efficient appliances.

Q: What are Energy Star appliances, and why should I consider them?
A: Energy Star appliances meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the Department of Energy and EPA. Using these appliances can significantly reduce electricity consumption and costs.

Q: How can I measure the electricity usage of my appliances?
A: Devices like the Kill-a-Watt meter can help you measure the power consumption of individual appliances, allowing you to identify energy hogs and manage your usage better.

Q: Are small changes really effective in reducing my electricity bill?
A: Yes, even small changes like unplugging devices, using power strips, and adjusting appliance usage can add up to meaningful savings over time.

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