Brace yourselves! Electricity charges are only going UP!
Yep, it’s that time of year where we attempt to cool down the house as much as possible, and often end up with a whopping great electricity bill at the end of it. Summer is the most expensive time of the year.
So in the interests of reducing those electricity bills as much as possible, both to save yourself dollars and to be a bit more eco-friendly, it’s good to determine what in your house could be causing you unnecessary costs and pull the plug – literally.
Anywhere from 5 to 10 percent of your household energy bill might be coming from devices that you leave plugged in 24 hours a day, whether you are using them are not.
While experts believe most of our plugged-in appliances usually only account for low levels of electricity usage, some items like computers and televisions consume a heap of electricity – even if they are on sleep or standby mode!
The cumulative effect of having so many devices plugged in 24/7 can really start to add up and hurt your hip pocket in the process.
These are some of the biggest money suckers you should unplug when not in use.
1. Desktop Computers
Also monitors, speakers, printers – pretty much your whole office is plugged in – and sometimes we leave it on all night! Turn everything off when you leave for the day!
These items can cost as much as $49 per year if you leave them on all the time!
2. Laptop Computers
Laptops really suck the power, and it is so easy to leave it switched on overnight. Laptops can cost $49 per year – just by leaving them plugged in. It doesn’t hurt computers to let them use battery power during the day – then re-charge and turn them off!
3. Televisions
Even when you switch your television off at night, it is still on standby. This is costing you $29.00 per year, per television. Turn them off at the switch.
4. DVD Players
Like televisions, these use standby power when switched off. Turn them off and save $22 per year.
5. VCRs (if you are still using one in this century)
Throw it out. We live in the 21st century. See above, DVD players.
6. Modems
Modems are often over-looked as they are tucked away. But they too use power. $36 per year in fact! Turn them off at the wall. (All modems should be plugged into a safety switch or switch protector too – to save them from storms!).
7. Pay TV boxes
Ever felt one of those Pay TV Boxes? They run hot. Heat means power, and power means it is costing you. $30 per year to leave these on – turn them off!
8. Cordless Phones
Sure, mobile phones need to be charged. But they don’t need to be plugged in all the time. In fact, you will get a longer battery life if you only charge it until it is full – then allowing it to get pretty low on battery before plugging it back in!
9. Stereo Systems
10. Radios
11. Video Game Consoles
12. Coffee Makers
13. Toasters
14. Lamps
15. Electronic gadgets like iPods plugged in to the mains
16. Home theatre systems
17. Digital picture frames
It all adds up
Our energy usage is billed by kilowatt hours (kWh) – which is 1000 watts operating for one hour. It’s good to get a handle on this to avoid any terrible surprises when the electricity bill arrives. Check your most recent electricity bill to determine how much a kilowatt costs you.
The electricity that our electrical appliances consumed when they aren’t turned off varies from appliance to appliance. The range can be anywhere from one to 50 watts of electricity. It might not sound like a lot, but when you have 20 plus appliances in your home using this, it all adds up!
How do you save on electricity?
