Due to inflation, the economy, and various other reasons, it's more important now than ever to save money on your utilities. With gas and electricity prices rising and not looking to come down any time soon, it might be time to take your energy savings plan to the next level by unplugging certain appliances.
Whether you're actively using them or not, unplugging certain appliances will help save big bucks on your energy bill. While you never want to unplug something that could put you in danger, such as your AC or furnace, there are certain things you're not using, but that could be costing you dearly.
- 8 Appliances You Can Unplug to Save Money
- Other Ways to Save Money on Your Energy Bill
- The Truth About Wasted Electricity
8 Appliances You Can Unplug to Save Money
According to electricians and economists, there are certain appliances and electrical devices in your home that use copious amounts of electricity. There are also appliances and devices that absorb electricity even when you aren't using them. These devices are known as electrical vampires, and it's important to unplug them if you want to save money on your energy bill.
Small Appliances
The first thing to be aware of with electrical vampires are small appliances. Most of these appliances are in your kitchen and bathroom and include things like your electric can opener, blender, toasters, and similar appliances. In your bathroom, it can include things like blow dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners.
Most of these appliances get used sporadically and intermittently and don't need to be plugged in 24/7. However, even when you aren't actively using them, many kitchen and bathroom appliances absorb electricity and spike your energy bill. By themselves, small appliances won't make a big difference. When you add them all together, however, they can cost up to $100 per year in wasted energy.
Electronic Chargers
The next thing you need to watch out for are electric chargers. This includes chargers for phones, laptops, tablets, and other handheld electronic devices. Chargers tend to use electricity anytime they're plugged in, even if they aren't actually charging anything. To avoid this, you should invest in smart chargers that automatically turn off when your device is fully charged.
Your Entertainment System
While you can't live without your TV and entertainment system, you aren't using it 24/7. Entertainment devices and systems are huge culprits when it comes to wasted energy known as phantom power. By unplugging your stereo, DVD player, TV, and gaming console, you can save tons of electricity.
Equipment in Your Home Office
In the same way that your entertainment equipment uses a ton of phantom power, so does your home office equipment. Laptops, modems, printers, and desktop computers are especially detrimental when you're trying to save money on your energy bill. Combined, they can cost hundreds of dollars per year in electricity that you don't even use.
Hot Water Recirculation Pump
Unless you have a hot water recirculation pump on a timer, you're wasting a ton of electricity. Your hot water recirculation pump has the job of providing hot water on demand by pumping out cold water and replacing it with hot water. Unfortunately, most of these pumps run constantly when it really isn't necessary. By investing in an automatic hot water recirculation pump or turning your existing pump off and on as needed, you can save a ton of electricity.
Fans and Certain Lights
It's common nature and practice to leave certain lights and fans on 24/7. Whether it's outdoor access lights, security lights, or nightlights, there's something comforting about not being in the dark. However, it's estimated that people spend an average of $100 annually on lights that they aren't even using.
The same can be said for keeping fans running at all hours of the day and night. Recirculation fans, the fan on your furnace, bathroom exhaust fans, and ceiling fans are all prone to using electricity whether you're using them or not. It's also common practice to leave these fans running far longer than is necessary, resulting in even more wasted money.
Your Aquarium
If you have a working aquarium with living fish inside, unplugging it isn't really an option. However, if you have an aquarium that isn't in use, there's a good chance that it's still plugged in. While the lights on your aquarium use some electricity, the heater is the main culprit. Your aquarium heater costs several hundred dollars per year to operate, so make sure you don't use it if you don't have to.
Kitchen Appliances
The last major set of appliances to watch out for when it comes to phantom power and electrical vampires are your kitchen appliances. We mentioned a few of them in the small appliances section above, such as blenders, can openers, and toasters. However, if you really want to make a dent in your energy bill, you should also consider unplugging your microwave and coffee maker when you aren't using them.
Each of these appliances can waste hundreds of dollars per year by absorbing electricity while not in use.
Other Ways to Save Money on Your Energy Bill
In addition to unplugging certain appliances, there are a few other ways to save money on your electricity bill.
Invest in Efficient Appliances
Regardless of how much electricity they use, there are certain appliances that you can't simply unplug. For instance, air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators, clothes dryers, water heaters, washers, dishwashers, and stoves use way more electricity than any other appliances on this list. Since you use many of these appliances on a daily basis, you should invest in efficient options rather than constantly unplug and plug them back in.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Aside from investing in energy-efficient appliances, readily adjusting your thermostat is the next best thing you can do. During summer months, for instance, while it might be more comfortable to have the thermostat set to 69 or 70, you're not going to die if it's set to 73 or 74. Conversely, in the winter months, wrap up in a blanket or extra layers and set the thermostat to 68 rather than 75.
The Truth About Wasted Electricity
You're probably thinking that you do a good job of not wasting electricity by not overusing appliances. However, despite your best efforts, you will waste electricity unless you follow the tips in this article. In fact, it's estimated that roughly 20% of all electricity used in the United States is phantom electricity. It's also estimated that wasted electricity costs nearly $20 billion per year. By following the tips and tricks in this article, you can avoid being part of these statistics.
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