5 Habits That Drive Up Your Electricity Bill

Some of our energy habits are totally unconscious; that’s why they’re called “habits.” More often than not, these habits lead to high power bills. You may be unaware of how much power some of your daily routines actually consume. Educating yourself is the first step in making changes, reducing your consumption and unlocking savings. Here are five habits that drive up your power bill:

Forgetting to Turn Off Lights and Ceiling Fans

Most of us grow up with our parents drilling into our heads how important it is to turn the lights off when we leave a room. Still, many of us leave lights on by accident without realizing how it affects our power bill. Lighting can account for a significant percentage of your home’s overall energy consumption. Regardless of the types of bulbs you use, it’s important to avoid any unnecessary energy use by turning them off when you leave a room. 

For the same reason, you should always switch ceiling fans off when no one is in the room. Contrary to popular belief, ceiling fans don’t keep rooms cool; they keep people cool. If there’s no one in the room, leaving ceiling fans on consumes energy for no reason.

Leaving “Energy Vampires” Plugged In

You may be wondering what “energy vampires” refers to. Energy vampires are electronic devices that continue to draw energy even when they’re off or on standby. This is also called “standby energy.” Devices like chargers, TVs and game consoles are among the most popular energy vampires in people’s homes, accounting for 5-10% of total electricity usage. Most people don’t know about this phenomenon, so they leave these devices plugged in without a second thought. 

The best way to prevent energy vampires from sucking up unnecessary electricity is to unplug them when they’re not in use. This may take a little mental programming, so you can always use smart power strips or strips with an easy on/off switch to get the job done.

Using Appliances Inefficiently

Large appliances, especially those that produce heat, consume a lot of energy. That’s why it’s important to use them as efficiently as possible. Many people, though, don’t practice the smartest habits when it comes to using their appliances. Things like improperly filling the dishwasher, running half loads of laundry or dishes, keeping the refrigerator door open for too long, or even neglecting proper appliance upkeep all contribute to higher electricity bills.

Neglecting HVAC Maintenance and Cranking Your Thermostat

As much as 20% of your home’s energy consumption comes from your air conditioning unit. What makes this number even larger is when you neglect to properly maintain your HVAC system or when you don’t use your thermostat mindfully. You should be regularly changing your air filter, usually every 1-3 months, depending on the manufacturer. This ensures that air can flow freely and reduces how hard your AC has to work to heat or cool your home. When setting your thermostat, resist the temptation to crank it up and down. Instead, keep the setting close to 78 degrees during the summer and 68 degrees during the winter.

Consuming a Lot of Energy During Peak Hours

Whether you’re heating or cooling your home, cooking, or doing a load of laundry, the time of day matters. Most people aren’t familiar with time-of-use rates or how they affect their power bills. During peak hours, the rate per kilowatt-hour is higher than during off-peak hours. This means you’re charged more for the energy you use. These are the times you should avoid using appliances that consume a lot of energy, like stoves, dryers and dishwashers. Instead, wait until off-peak hours to do chores that require you to use these appliances. Time-of-use rates vary from power company to power company. Check your electricity provider’s peak and off-peak hours to figure out how to adjust your routine.

Now that you know about these common energy-consuming habits, you can make adjustments to save money on your power bill. Pronto Power is all about helping you unlock savings. Get started on our prepaid power plans today by calling (844) 621-2852!