Energy efficiency should be important to you as a homeowner, as it enables you to save a significant amount of money on your energy bill. However, there might be some instances when you notice that your efforts toward energy efficiency don’t seem to be working. If this is the case for you, then it’s possible that you may have energy vampires in your home. These vampires tend to offset whatever measures you take to make your home more energy efficient and are very, very real.
In this post, Dependable Heating & Air Conditioning, one of the leading HVAC companies in the area, discusses the five biggest energy vampires in the average American household.
Chargers – Chargers are something the majority of people use daily for phones, tablets and laptops. However, they’re also one of the biggest energy vampires around. One way to avoid a large energy bill due to your chargers is to unplug them or invest in eco-friendly charging platforms or power cords. That way they’ll automatically shut off once your device is fully charged.
Set-Top Boxes – Boxes such as your cable box may look small, but they actually take in a large amount of energy and can cause your bills to spike. To avoid this, consider investing in an ENERGY STAR®-qualified cable box. Alternatively, if you’re willing to splurge a little, buy a smart TV so the cable box will no longer be needed.
Outdated HVAC Equipment – HVAC installation contractors will likely recommend replacing your outdated system with a high-efficiency version. This is because outdated HVAC models can eat up a lot of energy and give very little in return. With that in mind, consider upgrading to a new model to save on your monthly energy bill.
Gaming Consoles – Do you have a child who likes to leave their Playstation or XBox turned on all day? Unfortunately for you, gaming consoles consume a lot of energy, which can raise your utility bill. Luckily, many modern consoles have an automatic power-saving mode which will activate after a set amount of time. If the console doesn’t have such a feature, be sure to turn it off yourself instead.
Outdated Appliances – Old appliances are another energy vampire that can wreak havoc on your home’s energy bill. Avoid wasting energy by upgrading your appliances to ENERGY STAR-rated products. This will give you a more efficient model that will help you save energy.
Make your search for HVAC maintenance companies easier by turning to Dependable Heating & Air Conditioning. We’re your leading provider of furnace repair and maintenance services.