Are you annoyed by the rising energy bills? Do you experience a shock whenever you open the energy bills? Are you wondering why your energy bills keep going up?
If the answer is ‘yes’ to the above questions, you may be doing something wrong.
Electricity bills represent a significant expense for most homeowners. Taking actions to reduce the energy bills can have a big payoff.
A lot of people tend to unconsciously make mistakes when using home appliances that spike up the bills. The mistakes not only increase the bills but also negatively affect the budget.
Here are 7 common mistakes that you should avoid to reduce your energy bills in Canada.
1. Using Older Appliances
Using older appliances is a common cause of high energy bills.
Older appliances consume a lot of energy. Most old appliances are not energy efficient. Even energy efficient appliances loose efficiency with time.
To save on electricity costs, you should consider replacing an older appliance with a new one. Make sure that the new device has an Energy Star logo. Devices with the logo are highly energy efficient that can result in savings of hundreds of dollars in bills every year.
2. Keeping Appliances Plugged In
Another common cause for a high energy bill is keeping the devices plugged in. You should remember that every appliance some consumes electricity even when they are turned off.
Appliances continue to draw electricity that results in increased energy bills. When you turn off the appliance, it goes into the standby position instead of turning off completely.
While the appliances may not use as much electricity when on standby, the electricity usage can add up if a lot of appliances are plugged in. Simply taking out the plug of devices not being used can result in significant savings.
3. Not Studying the Electricity Plan
Keep in mind that the power rates differ significantly depending on the plans. For example, the Edmonton power company Direct Energy offers different rates for a variety of lifestyles, including bundles, short-term, long-term, and fixed-rate plans. You should select an electricity plan that offers the best value for money.
You can save on electricity bills by locking in your electricity rate for a specific number of months. This can save you hundreds of dollars in bills.
Some Edmonton power providers also provide free power during the first month as an incentive to customers. You should select an electricity plan that offers the best value for money.
Never opt for a Time-of-Use (TOU) plan that is offered by some utility providers. These plans charge variable rates depending on the time of the day you consume electricity. Typically, the plan charges a higher rate for electricity consumption during the evening. This is the time when electricity usage is the highest as people return from work.
4. Not Using a Programmable Thermostat
Using a programmable thermostat can also save you a large sum every year due to reduced energy bills. You can cut energy bills by up to 10 percent by setting the temperature 10 degrees lower when you are asleep.
At lower temperature, your cooling and heating device will use less electricity. The expected savings by using a programmable thermostat can go up to hundreds of dollars every year.
5. Not Turning Off Heating / Cooling Device when Leaving Home
The idea that you can save money by letting the air conditioner or heater on when you leave the house is nothing more than a myth. The electricity bills will be higher when you leave the device on instead of when using it when you need it.
You should always turn off the heater or air conditioner when no one is around. This will lead to significant savings in electricity bills.
6. Setting a High Water Heater Temperature
A lot of people set a high temperature for the water heater. But this is unnecessary resulting in higher energy bills.
You should set the thermostat of the heater at about 120 oF (49 oC). Anything higher represents the wastage of energy. Water that’s too hot can even be dangerous.
7. Trying to Heat or Cool Your Home Faster
Heaters and air conditioners take time to bring the room to the desired temperature. The device works at a single speed. Setting a higher temperature won’t make your heater work faster. Also, your air conditioner won’t cool the room quickly when you set a lower temperature.
The room will take the same amount of time to heat up or cool no matter what temperature you set. Trying to heat or cool the room quickly by setting a lower temperature will only result in a higher energy bill.