High Energy Bills: 4 Causes And How To Fix Energy Bills
Rising energy costs can gravely impact your financial stability. Research indicates that the average American pays over $100 monthly for electricity consumption. It’s also worth noting that your energy bills can escalate monthly. Admittedly, a small increment may be challenging to detect or even be ignored. However, larger increases require your immediate attention. Here are the common causes of higher energy expenses and how to fix energy bills. This will improve the expenses house and the potential landlord tenant relationship!
1. Vampire sources
You may switch off the lights when leaving your home to save energy. Although it is a laudable idea, it’s easy to overlook vampire sources sucking your energy. Vampire source is a collective term for appliances that remain plugged in all the time. Television sets, smart speakers, and your computers are typical examples, so keep this in mind. Indeed, vampire sources draw little energy but can shoot up your energy bills when not unplugged after use. According to the United States Energy Department, idle power usage is responsible for 10% of residential energy consumption, potentially increasing your annual energy cost by $100. Minimizing vampire source consumption is as easy as unplugging all your devices when not in use.
2. Extreme weather and bad poor insulation
Overly hot or cold conditions can also impact your energy bills, especially if your home insulation isn’t up to standard. Indeed, warm or cold air can escape from your home through the cracks, raising your utility bills. This is because air conditioners and heating devices work harder to make your home comfortable, causing them to waste more energy. Therefore, consider properly insulating your home to minimize energy wastage from these appliances. And you can do this by identifying and sealing cracks in your walls. Your windows can also be a major culprit of massive air leaks. And this leads to the next point.
3. Inefficient windows
The Energy Department states that windows account for 25 to 30% of home cooling and heating energy usage. That said, you risk increased energy bills if you don’t upgrade or fix your broken windows. However, you must not DIY this project without the right expertise, as the wrong installation can increase your costs. Fortunately, professional window contractors can install energy-efficient windows for your home to help fix energy bills. The Department of Energy recommends adding window treatments to improve heating and cooling, so feel free to consider this.
4. Old appliances
Outdated appliances are less energy-efficient, requiring more power to operate. On the other hand, modern Energy Star devices use around 10 to 50% less energy, making the ideal for your home. Not only are they cost-effective, but they are also eco-friendly. When you replace your 10-year-old refrigerator with a new one, you can save up to $144 in energy bills over 5 years. While at it, consider replacing your bulbs if you haven’t already. Indeed, incandescent light bulbs consume a lot of energy, so replacing them with LED bulbs is prudent. LED bulbs use about 75% less energy than conventional incandescent lamps, so keep this in mind.
