Are you wondering why your electricity bill is so high? If you are like most homeowners, you may not pay much attention to your energy bills. However, this changes when you suddenly notice an unusually high electricity bill. Read on for five reasons why your electricity bill could be rising.
Faulty appliances
When your home’s appliances such as the HVAC systems, washing machines, refrigerators, and dishwashers are faulty, they have to work twice as hard to perform the desired functions resulting in high electricity bills. Faulty wiring could also damage your appliances, leading to life-threatening shocks and electric fires. Be sure to inspect and maintain the home appliances to ensure you and your family’s safety and keep electricity bills at the minimum.
Vampire appliances
Unplugging the curling iron, adjusting temperatures, or switching off the light before leaving your home are excellent ways to save energy. However, you may still receive a high electricity bill due to vampire sources. Vampire appliances are systems that remain plugged in all the time. It could be your computer charger, television, smart speaker, or kitchen appliances.
Even when they are not in use, these appliances drain a small amount of energy, increasing the electricity bill. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report, idle power usage contributes to 10% of residential energy use, which adds up to more than $100 annually. Unplug all devices to prevent the vampire appliances from driving the electricity up over time
Use of traditional inefficient bulbs for lighting
If you recently noticed an increase in your energy bill, it could be due to the continued use of traditional bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs and incandescent bulbs emit light in all directions, increasing energy wastage. Invest in energy-efficient lights like the light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs to reduce energy consumption. LED bulbs emit light in a specific direction, consuming 75% less energy than traditional light bulbs. They also last 25% longer, giving you more money-saving opportunities. Contact Energy Texas for renewable energy-efficient solutions to reduce your energy bills.
Poor home insulation
Insulating your home, especially when you live in cold regions, helps trap as much heat as possible inside the house. If the home is poorly insulated, a lot of heat escapes the house, making the HVAC system work harder to provide the desired home temperatures. This leads to more energy consumption, increasing the utility bills. Identify areas around the house such as the windows, roof, or attic where heat often escapes and add insulation to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
Increased number of people living in your home
The number of people living in your house impacts electricity usage significantly. Whether living in the home temporarily or permanently, more people means more lights are on and more appliances are being used, raising the electricity costs.
Endnote
The first step to reducing your electricity bills is identifying the culprits behind the increased power usage. Only then can you make changes to help you take control of your energy bill and lower it over time.
