According to the Department of Energy, more than 40% of the power consumed by the average American household is from heating and cooling systems. Of course, there are other things that drive utility costs, as well. In fact, homeowners on average pay as much as an extra 10% on their utility bill because of certain “energy vampires” that continuously draw power, even when not in use.
Let our professionals at BPP share some ways you can save power and finally get rid of the energy vampires in your home.
ENERGY STAR® Certification
Don’t get too attached to that heirloom appliance from the early 50s. Even if it’s still working perfectly, its efficiency is bound to pale in comparison to the modern models available today. This is particularly true when it comes to air conditioning units. Unfortunately, no amount of AC repair visits can raise the efficiency rating of an old appliance to match those that have been certified with an ENERGY STAR rating. So the next time you’re out shopping for new appliances, consider replacing your outdated models with newer versions, and you’ll be surprised at how big a difference this can make in your energy consumption.
Plugged-In Devices
Gaming consoles, smart TVs and even desktop computers are all plugged in 24/7. During this time, they continuously drain energy from the grid, slowly but surely increasing your energy consumption. Perform a small-scale energy audit to determine which electronic devices are essential to be kept on at all times, and turn off and unplug those that only occasionally see use.
Charging Ports
While it may seem that chargers and charging ports for your digital devices would comprise only a very small portion of energy use in the context of your whole home consumption, collectively they actually make up a sizable chunk of your monthly bill. While you don’t need to unplug all of them completely, minimizing your use of some of the less important ones, will enable you to shave a few cents off your bill every day.
Whether you’re looking for whole home energy audits or air conditioning and ventilation repair visits to improve your HVAC performance, you can count on our specialists at BPP, your number one go-to resource for home energy efficiency solutions. Give us a call at (925) 495-0054 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation and request a free estimate today.