Rosie Romero
Special to the Arizona Daily Star

Here are some tips that will save energy and help to save money on your utility bills. Add them all together and you can save a chunk of change and still stay cool.

Pay attention to your energy usage

1. Select the right energy plan — Make sure you are on the right purchasing plan with your electricity provider. The cost of electricity is measured in kilowatt (kWh)-hours and ranges from 6 cents to 20 cents per kWh. The price depends on the time of day you consume energy.

2. Turn off the lights. How many of us recall being told to turn off the lights by our parents? Well, they were right. The dollar savings depend on the type and size of bulb you use. Convert your home to LED lights as the incandescents burn out.

3. Install ceiling fans. They don’t cool the room, but the air movement will help the occupants feel cooler.

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4. Unplug your electrical devices when not in use. Devices that are plugged in use power even when not powered on. This energy draw is known as the phantom load. The phantom load has increased as the number of appliances and devices we have that are on standby have increased. This list would include things like computers, smart TVs, programmable thermostats and coffee makers, etc. According to the Department of Energy, by disconnecting these unused devices, households could save between $100 and $200 per year. The Phantom is real.

While it is not feasible to unplug every unused device, charger and appliance every day, things like wireless electric outlet switches and energy-saving power strips help to cut down on the wasted energy.

5. Smart appliance use. Let’s look at a few tips from Energy Star:

Dishwasher vs. hand washing. If the number of dishes that need to be washed approaches a full load in your dishwasher, then hand washing will not likely save you money, according to Energy Star. Using an Energy Star-rated dishwasher can help reduce your power bill. You will save even more if your water heater is electric.

For even more savings, consider running the dishwasher during off-peak.

Washing machine. You will save energy by using cold or warm water instead of hot (cold water will not sanitize). As with your dishwasher, you should see more savings if your water is heated by electricity. Washing with a full load is also better than doing small loads.

Freezer — The ideal setting is 0 degrees F, with the fridge set to 35-38 degrees F. Check your temperature settings. Look for Energy Star appliances when it is time to replace your freezer.

TIP: Look for rebates — The Energy Star website is a great place to search for rebates on everything from LED light bulbs to Energy Star-rated dishwashers and washing machines. energystar.gov/rebate-finder

A couple of other things your mom told you:

1. Close that door! Right again, Mom. Sometimes, when we’re rushed or carrying packages, we think we’ve pushed the door closed, but it doesn’t latch. A door needs to latch to engage the weather stripping fully.

2. Manage the sun. Close those curtains when in cooling mode. Open those curtains to let in the warming rays of the sun if you are in heating mode. Controlling the sunlight that enters your home can make a significant difference.

Beware of scams

With energy savings on everybody’s radar these days, there have been reports of “energy saving devices” that plug into your wall outlet and claim to “clean up” the electricity that comes into your home. This common scam sells a plug-in device that cannot save you money.

According to the folks at the Central Alabama Electrical Cooperative, this is a scam. They say there is nothing you can plug into your wall outlet that will save you money.

The scammers are misrepresenting how electricity works. Claiming the device operates as a voltage optimizer (see below), it does nothing more than light an LED that consumes electricity.

Voltage optimizers are designed to keep the energy coming into the home at a consistent level. More than likely, they will not save you money in a typical residence, but they can help protect sensitive electronics. These are sophisticated devices and should be installed by a competent electrician at your main electrical box.

Again, nothing that gets plugged into an outlet will save you money.

There are some common-sense actions we can all take to save energy and cut our utility bills. And we always love the opportunity to give Mom’s good sense a shoutout!

The top stories from Sunday’s Home+Life section in the Arizona Daily Star.


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