Savvy homeowners aren’t at the mercy of their electrical company. They know what it takes to keep energy consumption minimal, and their electrical bills low. Here are a few tricks you could implement to enjoy greater electrical efficiency.
- Use the right apps
The first step to lowering energy consumption is knowing how energy is consumed in the home. Thankfully, there are apps and tools that can track this information for you. The Poniie Electricity Usage Monitor, for example, can track how much electricity is used by the TV or microwave. If certain appliances or devices turn out to be energy-sucking vampires, you can start thinking about what adjustments to make.
- Close the gaps
An easy way to keep the home’s indoor temperature stable is to seal air leaks around windows and doors with caulking, spray foam, or weatherstripping. Be sure to check for gaps around chimneys, plumbing, ductwork, electrical wiring, recessed lights, and dryer vents.
- Dry at the right time
The dryer produces heat when it’s on and could be a good source of heat in the evening or in the morning.
- Reverse ceiling fans
Ceiling fans are useful in both cool and warm seasons. During the summer, they help lift warm air to the ceiling. During the winter, they help push warm air down. But, you’ll need to change the direction of the ceiling fan blades to ensure the fan is working properly in the current season. Blades should be turning clockwise during the winter.
- Use motion sensors
Kids often forget to turn lights off once they leave the bathroom or their room. If you’re tired of manually turning off the light after them, consider installing motion sensors that will automatically turn off the lights when no one is in the room.
- Use power strips
Plugged in devices use power even if they’re not actively on. To prevent this, use a power strip and simply turn the switch off once you’re done watching TV or charging your phone.
- Schedule service
Efficiency is key to low energy bills. That’s why it’s important to keep up with maintenance. Feel free to call Blue Apple Electric to take care of maintenance for your electrical and HVAC systems.
Read here to see when it’s time to upgrade your home’s electrical system