Summer electricity bills can make a dent in one’s assets, especially in the current economic climate, and with that in mind a non-profit organization has published tips on ways to avoid the escalating costs.
The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) says the easiest way to save is to turn off the lights, not only when no one is at home, but also in rooms that are not in use at any particular moment.
It also stresses the importance of switching off, or at least turning to an energy-saving mode, any electronic equipment, such as a radio, TV set or a computer that is not being used.
A great economizing step – but one few people keep in mind – has to do with unplugging electronic equipment during longer absences, such as summer vacations.
In fact, the ASE says that "even if all of the appliances … are turned off, chances are that they are still drawing a small amount of energy."
It warns that this small (usually around 1-5 watts) "phantom load" for each individual device can quickly add up.
Families may also consider installing energy-saving bulbs to improve efficiency for longer-time financial benefits.
A smart way of using air-conditioning can also make a big difference in the domestic budget. Unless there are pets in the house, there is no need to run the AC when there is nobody home, the organization says.
During the night, some families have also chosen to cool only the bedrooms, for added savings.