Think Outside The Box For Energy Bills
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by: DavidSheard | Total views: 25 | Word Count: 635
As electricity costs spin out of control we're all looking for ways to help in cutting our power usage. The bad news is simply that with oil costs bumping $100 a barrel the upward trend in electricity prices is probably going to deterioriate not better. Most of the obvious techniques of reducing the amount of electricity you use on a daily basis you've probably already implemented.
Techniques like replacing bulbs in your home with energy efficient ones and switching off new appliances as an example are both cheap and straightforward to implement however there is a lot more that can be done if you're willing to spend a little money now for Energy Savings Products.
The following methods though not advanced science or dear to carry out will in the long term help you to cut the amount of electricity you consume although break even point won't be realized for about a year.
Electricity Consumption Monitors. For roughly $40 you can purchase a gadget which consistently monitors the amount of electricity you are using at any particular time. These devices typically come in two parts both powered by batteries. The 1st part is a sender unit that is attached to one of the cables leaving your electricity meter and it measures the power being employed by all of the electric devices in your house and sends the results to a receiver unit. The second part is a receiver unit that is mounted in an outstanding position in your home where it can be easily viewed.
It has got a giant LCD display which shows in KW how much electricity you're using now. After two weeks of standard use you will get a feel for what is the normal base rate of power you're using on a standard day. For my home it's about 0.3 - 0.6 Kilowatts. If on passing the unit I see a reading of two KW or more I know something that's drawing plenty of power has been left switched on. Regularly it turns out the stove or microwave is the party responsible and as it's my dinner that's being cooked it can be ignored.
Infrequently though it seems something has been left switched on by mistake and more often than not it's the hot water heater. Now a water heater will draw two Kilowatts of power plus and leaving it on when it's not needed can be a dear business and it's this kind of unnecessary use that the electricity monitor will help you save.
Standby Energy Savers. These devices can be purchased for about $30 and are a great way to save electricity. Most electrical devices have a standby mode that appears to switch the device off. The reality though is that standby mode for a TV for example can use up to seventy pc or more of the TV's normal power consumption!
This is pricey as these items are frequently left at the ready 24 hours a day. An energy saver works by sitting between the mains plug and the offending machine. When you wish to power off the device you simply click on a button on a supplied radio control and the power is actually cut off. These devices are fantastic for equipment which has the electric socket in a position where it is impossible to get at to physically switch it off fit the device and the remote control does the rest. This can also be terribly reassuring when leaving the house for one or two days you know for sure that your electronic equipment is disconnected from the mains.
Each of the above devices have a cost up front that many aren't prepared to pay but when you consider the upward trend in energy costs is up just imagine the long term savings you might make by fitting these cheap devices.
About the Author
Reducing the amount of electricity you use at home has never been more important than today. With electricity prices rising faster than inflation it's time to take a look at some innovative ways to reduce your current Energy Consumption including switching to a cheaper supplier like the Utility Warehouse.
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