Technology improves the quality of life, but it can also add stress to the homeowner. The electrical appliances in your home can consume a great deal of energy and raise utility costs, yet most of them are essential for everyday life. You need a fridge for food, a computer for work, and a water heater for comfort, but they don’t always require a large bill. Innovation in technology is constant, but why are still losing money? Try to upgrade your electrical appliances for energy efficiency.
Ending the slow increase of inflated utilities requires your own personal innovation. Outdated appliances cannot choose to upgrade or change, that decision relies upon you. Utilizing the Energy Star standard, which is a national system to test and promote the energy efficiency of products, and incorporating our own knowledge as an electrical company, we’ve provided suggestions for upgrades and changes to your electrical appliances.
Refrigerator. An outdated fridge can be a drain on the electricity. If your fridge is 15 years or older, it must work harder to keep food cold. This extra energy consumption can raise its usage up to 1500 kWh a year. Upgrading to a newer model with an Energy Star certification can reduce that amount to as low as 400 kWh a year. In addition, there are practices you can take to further reduce costs. Proper size and positioning, along with allowing air circulation and keeping doors sealed can add further savings.
Computer. Leaving your computer on 24/7 will drive up energy usage drastically, especially if you built your own high-end PC. This can add as much as 1400 kWh annually. Put your computer to sleep when not in use, or turn it off completely. Set your computer to automatically shut down or sleep after a certain amount of time of being idle. Upgrading your desktop to an Energy Star certified machine will lower costs instrumentally.
Maintaining other computer devices will help as well. For laptops, follow the same steps and turn off when not in use. Having an LCD monitor instead of the larger CRTs will also reduce energy consumption. Finally, if you’re building a PC you should opt for parts such as energy efficient power supplies, solid-state drives, and lower power CPUs.
Water Heater. With this appliance accounting for about 18% of your total energy costs, finding an efficient model is essential. Upgrading your water heater to an Energy Star certified model can save a house of four $300 per year. Switching to a different type of water heater can help as well. Tanlkess or “on demand” water heaters have become very popular in recent years. Tankless models only heat the water when needed – keeping the heating costs down. Consult with an electrical company to determine the ideal type of water heater for your home.
If you are ready to make your house more electrically efficient, then Custom Electrical Service is ready for you. Our technicians strive to provide the quality and affordable service a Des Moines homeowner deserves, we’d be happy to help you upgrade your electrical appliances. Give us a call at 515-669-3418 today to arrange an appointment and start saving!
For the best in quality electrical repair work and installations, contact the professionals at Custom Electric! Be sure to check back here each week for helpful advice, news, and guides or follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
