United Electrician Society
Simple Home Adjustments That Cut Electrical Costs
The San Diego Electrical Professionals Association or SDEPS is urging households to undertake simple home adjustments in order to cut down on power consumption. According to the SDEPS, the goal is not only to lower the utility bill, but also to decrease the carbon footprint of every household.
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The SDEPS says homeowners need not purchase expensive high efficiency devices, not upgrade to more eco-friendly alternatives if there is no room in their household budget for that. “They can make use of what is there, and adjust their mindset of trying to become a more intentional power consumer,” explains John Lucas, President of the SDEPS.
Here are some of the minor adjustments as suggested by the SDEPS:
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1. Use existing curtains and drapes to keep the draft out during the winter season, and shun the sunlight during the summer. These actions will at least pave the way to a more efficient operation of a home’s HVAC system.
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2. Bundle up when it is cold. An extra layer of clothing or socks in bed will help much in keeping warm during the winter. This means the HVAC will not have to be turned up too high, which again, will translate into savings on utility costs.
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3. Take time to program the home HVAC Thermostat. Some homeowners are intimidated about programming their HVAC thermostat, while some simply just do not want to take time. The few minutes spent to program that thermostat could lead to hundreds of dollars’ worth of savings at the end of the year.
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4. Unplugging vampire electronics and phantom power loads at home. All it takes is remembering to pull the plug on appliances that are not in use, including that small cable box or charger cradle. Yes, even that hair dryer can suck up energy when not in use, so it is way better to pull the plug on these devices when they are not needed. In their official website, the United States Department of Energy explains how these electrical devices use up power even in their inactive state. Independent Electrical Contractors Association:
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“Electronics which remain on standby mode, where capacitors are filled with energy and ready to turn on the TV etc. can use almost as much energy as being fully on. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 75 percent of the electricity that powers home electronics is consumed while these devices are turned off! Most home electronics use ‘standby power’ even when they’re switched off.” Read more here.
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The SDEPS says, if a household can afford it then a standard power strip can greatly help in stopping the power loss from these phantom power load users. Builders and Contractors
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https://www.electrical-pros.com/
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