I have a Kill-o-watt and have used it on several appliances to check usage. It helps but I still waste too much and most of that at present is from lighting outside that I have problem fixing motion sensors to work properly and need to swap out the bulbs for more efficient – when they make LED spot lights I will swap that out and reduce a chunk and I need to get rid of some wasteful appliance yet. We made a big swap when we updated our 20+ year old washer and dryer for more efficient units that use a lot less water too. But there is still a lot more to work on. – WD0AJG
Your home is unique and so are its energy needs. To become more energy efficient, start with a plan based on verifiable facts. Identify the major areas of electrical use in your environment and tackle those first. Remember, energy saving products and strategies that work in one home may fail in another. The first rule of thumb is, know your own energy consumption profile.
Most homes, on average, use 10,000 kWh of electricity per year, though usage will vary regionally. About 50 percent of that consumption goes to either heat or cooling, with lighting, appliances, and personal electronics taking up the rest. It’s often helpful to think of lowering usage in one or more given “topical” areas to bring down monthly bills and decrease a home’s environmental footprint.
Begin by conducting some form of energy audit either through evaluations offered by your local energy utility or by a company that specializes in such services. On your own, look for drafts, air leaks, and other gaps or holes in your home’s structure. If you have a fireplace, hire a professional to examine the damper and flue, which may channel more heat up the chimney than into your living area.
Start with a list of some of the standard energy-saving products that you may be able to incorporate into your home including thicker (or simply more) insulation, double-paned windows, and programmable thermostats. Also, don’t forget to change the air filters regularly (at least on an annual basis if not quarterly) to keep the home’s climate control system running as efficiently as possible.
Consider investing in a Kill-a-Watt, a measuring device manufactured by P3 International to gauge electrical use. The Kill-a-Watt is plugged into a standard wall socket and the device to be measured is in turn plugged into the unit. Over a period of time, preferably 24 hours, the Kill-a-Watt will tell you exactly how much electricity the given device is consuming, even when it’s turned off.
A cheaper, but less accurate method, is to use websites like EnergySavers.com or CarbonFootprint.com that list average energy use by type or model for given appliances and electronics. Either way, you are working to develop a picture of how “thirsty” your devices may be and how much of your electrical bill they’re “drinking” monthly.
It is likely that your energy audit of devices and appliances will find some real electrical hogs you may want to replace. Before buying anything new, do your research. Read the Energy Guide label that estimates how much consumption you can expect from an appliances and see if other brands are better rated. Getting the same kind of information for personal electronics can be trickier, but not necessarily impossible.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program certifies appliances and electronics that are more efficient than standard models. In some instances, you may find rebate or tax incentives at your disposal for replacing aged, out-of-date appliances. This can help to offset the higher cost of some more efficient units by as much as 50 percent.
Another key area of energy consumption, lighting, can be substantially improved with a range of products from outdoor solar lights to indoor compact fluorescent bulbs. Newer and better LED (light emitting diode) products are becoming available with radically reduced energy consumption. Even older technology like motion sensors on outdoor security lights can make a vast difference in your power bill.
The best products for saving energy and lowering your home electrical bill are those items that most directly address the energy excesses in your unique environment. No one can effectively trim their overall home power use without knowing exactly where the kilowatts are going. With reliable information on how your home is currently using electricity, you can make better choices for products and alterations that will reduce that energy footprint.
How To Save Electricity
Save money, energy, and the environment. Learn the truth about products that claim to save energy.
http://www.howtosaveelectricity.net/cat/energy-saving-devices/
Author: Brent Crouch
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Humorous photo captions