By anthony k
Are you tired of paying high bills? Being cautious can help you avoid paying exorbitant bills that could overwhelm you if your source of income is threatened. Lowering your bills can help you save more and redirect funds to other relevant projects.
Reducing the electricity bill begins by knowing the electricity consumption of your home based on your electrical appliances and electronic devices. Use online tools like Efficiency Vermont’s Electric Usage Chart, Central Maine Power’s Home Energy Calculator, or borrow Maine’s Kill-a-Watt monitor to calculate the kilowatt hours of each device to help estimate your monthly cost.
The Kill-a-Watt monitor is easy to use. You have to plug it into an outlet and one appliance after another on the monitor. The device must be plugged in for more than an hour to get an accurate average reading. Appliances like the dehumidifier and refrigerator can take more than 24 hours to give an accurate reading.
Statistics from the US Department of Energy estimate that electronic devices on standby can cost your home up to $100 per year. Electronic devices like computers, stereos, and televisions have a phantom/vampire charge, allowing them to draw power even when not in use. Devices with the phantom load should be tested when they are turned on and off.
The equation is the same for all devices. Simply divide the kWh value and divide it by the number of hours. Then multiply that by the hours the device is plugged in and drawing power. You arrive at the device’s monthly kWh by multiplying the total times you use the appliance each month.
The utility bill that highlights current charges is the remaining ingredient needed to come up with the yearly or monthly cost of your appliance.
