How to Better Control the Amount of Electricity Your Appliances Use

Electricity is expensive. On average, every kilowatt-hour costs close to 10.15 cents. That adds up quickly for any homeowner. But there are plenty of easy fixes in your home that will save energy and put money back in your pocket. Here are some of the simplest ways to control the amount of electricity in your home:

Change Your Power Settings

Just because you aren’t using your appliances, doesn’t mean these devices aren’t using energy. In fact, unused appliances can suck quite a bit of “vampire energy” out of your home and cost you money.    Take office devices. Most home office appliances such as computers, printers, fax machines, and other appliances use electricity unless they are in “power off” mode or not plugged in. Simple changes can make a big difference though. For example, changing your computer settings in the Power Options to shut off after five minutes of inactivity can save you $10- $100 annually on each computer. Choosing to unplug unused home office appliances or changing power settings whenever possible will help lower your electricity bill.

Add A Smart Power Switch   

You can also purchase a smart power switch. A smart power switch allows you to plug in multiple devices and save electricity while you do it. For example, if you forget to unplug your phone charger from your phone, the smart power switch will automatically turn off when your phone becomes fully charged.

Take Advantage Of Off-Peak Hours

Did you know there are times in the day when you pay less for your energy? Depending on your energy provider, you can save big bucks utilizing off-peak hours. For many companies, these hours are from 9 pm to 7 am during the weekdays and all 24 hours on the weekends. You can use a timer to delay your appliance until the off-peak hours. Additionally, if you find time in the evening or the weekend to accomplish tasks that don’t need to be done during the day (like printing or faxes), you can also earn considerable savings in the long-term.