Appliances and Electronics

The appliances and electronics you choose and how you use them affect your energy use and costs. According to energystar.gov, the average home spends about $2,200 on energy bills annually. Examine the appliances and electronics in your home and consider the following strategies for reducing energy use:

• Unplug an item when it is not in use to prevent phantom loads
• Change the settings or use the item less often
• Purchase a new, more efficient product

Lighting

Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill. Replacing compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) with light-emitting diodes (LED) bulbs can provide an estimated $70 per year in energy costs. Examine the light bulbs in your house and consider replacing them with more efficient LEDs.

When shopping for bulbs, consider the brightness of the bulbs you want. Whether soft white, cool white or warmer daylight white, it is a good idea to use the same color bulb in each room to provide consistent lighting color.

Today’s LED lights measure light in Lumens and typically consume as few as 12 to 15 watts of energy versus their traditional counterparts. Be sure to search for the Energy Star rating on the outside of the box.

If you have questions about the lighting or appliances in your home, or wish to schedule an in-home energy audit, contact one of our Energy Specialists at 704-289-3145, or try one yourself with our online audit.