You might not realize it, but some of your daily habits are to blame for your rising energy bills. This is true even for seemingly harmless actions like falling asleep with the TV on or keeping your gadgets plugged in. If your bill continually increases every month or is higher than you expect, it pays to be aware of the energy-guzzling habits and engage your energy-saving routines. Here are some of the other ways you are wasting electricity:
Staring at the fridge
Gazing at an open fridge for whatever reason is a surefire way to spend energy. Carelessly opening and closing your refrigerator, according to The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida, wastes about 50 to 120 kWh annually.
Opening the appliance let the cold air escapes and let the warm air in. This only means that the fridge’s compressor needs to always bring back the temperature to normal levels. This then increases both your electric bill and environmental footprint.
Not cleaning the AC/furnace filter
Dirty AC and furnace filters cause the system to work harder to keep your home comfortable. This also means more stress to the system, which then increases its energy consumption. Failing to replace the filters can also result in uneven heating or cooling and compromised indoor air quality.
AC and furnace service experts in Salt Lake City suggest cleaning or changing out the filters at least every 90 days or more often if you have pets. It is also ideal to have the system professionally checked every few years to make sure that it is in good working order.
Leaving appliances on standby
Even though devices on standby mode look like they are turned off, they still consume power. This means that you are paying for electricity that you are not using. This can contribute to a rise in your electricity bill, especially if there are some appliances left on standby mode.
It is best to unplug the device if you are not using it. You can also benefit from using an energy monitor to find out how much energy you are wasting. This lets you know the most significant energy vampires in the house and determine which appliances are okay to keep plugged in.
Using the oven frequently
As ovens consume a lot of power, you should only use as intended like baking or cooking large meals. Don’t use it for reheating food. Use a microwave instead. If you don’t have one, buy a microwave to avoid the temptation of using the oven to warm meals.
It is also best to avoid baking or using the oven in summer, especially in the afternoon. This helps reduce heat in your home, allowing you to save more on cooling costs. Check out this blog for cutting costs by using your oven efficiently.
Other energy-guzzling habits to watch out for include:
- Leaving the lights on when there is no one in the room
- Using incandescent bulbs instead of LEDs
- Leaving fans on in an unoccupied room
- Not having a programmable thermostat
Stop it with these habits to stop wasting energy. You should also consider replacing old appliances with energy-efficient ones to help lower your monthly electric bill.
