Homeowners’ energy expenditures typically rise during the winter months. Heating your home in the winter may be more expensive than cooling it in the summer if you reside in the north with harsh winters. Furthermore, many people spend more time at home during the winter months, which might increase energy use. When you combine shorter days and long, dark evenings with a spate of holidays, it’s simple to see how you’d expend more energy than you would at other times of year.
It’s critical to preserve electricity in the winter to reduce your electric bills as well as your carbon footprint. When the temperature drops, there are various strategies to save energy, including the 15 tips below.
Is it true that we use more electricity in the summer than the winter?
KEA receives calls from members every year who are concerned about their bills and/or meters. During the winter months, we receive the majority of these inquiries from people who believe their electric bills are inaccurate because they are greater than usual.
Heaters are on, we’re all inside more in the winter, the TV is on, the lights are on, the kids are inside, the fridge is open for snacks, and so on. In other words, throughout the winter, we all need more electricity.
We frequently have to remind members that their consumption will increase. The average monthly usage for all residential consumers is 602 kWh per year. The summer average is 505 kWh (about $78 for a typical monthly bill). The winter average is 706 kWh, which is more than 200 kWh higher than the summer average. The average winter cost is approximately $105.
If you’re worried about your bill, there are several things you can do to cut down on your usage and keep your cost from rising when the weather cools. What I would suggest is that you check your electric meter on a regular basis. Consider what you have going on in your home and take a look at your meter. Check out how rapidly it’s whirling. The more electricity is used at any given time, the faster it spins.
Things to keep an eye out for and things we’ve discovered that can help you save money on electricity are listed below.
Electric block heaters for automobiles and trucks can consume a lot of electricity. Many electric block heaters are 1,500 watt heaters that use the equivalent of fifteen 100 watt light bulbs in terms of energy consumption.
- If you plug in your truck every night, a timer might be a good idea. A good timer will set you back $20 and save you that much in monthly electricity costs. Setting the timer for one or two hours before you need to depart in the morning is generally sufficient to allow your vehicle to start easily.
- Check to see if someone else is plugging into your meter if you reside in an apartment building with exterior receptacles. This has happened to us several times recently.
Electric hot water heaters consume a lot of electricity. Silt and other water residue can build up on electric hot water heating elements. This insulates the water from the heat source, requiring the heater to work harder to heat the same volume of water. Increasing your use of hot water for laundry and personal use will almost surely raise your usage.
- Flushing your tank once a year is recommended by manufacturers. The water in Kotzebue can include a lot of silt at times; if you don’t flush your tank, the silt will eventually cause your water heater to stop working properly.
- Setting your tank’s temperature to 120 degrees will help you save money. Heaters are frequently adjusted to 170 degrees at the factory. Keep in mind that most 30-40 gallon tanks have two thermostats, one on the bottom and one on the top. Both of them should be turned back to 120 degrees.
- Protect your tank by insulating it. Many hot water heaters lose a significant amount of heat due to poor insulation by the manufacturer. Many hot water heaters come with only the bare minimum of insulation.
Electric heaters consume a lot of electricity. If you use a modest heater on a regular basis, it can cost you $100 or more per month.
Refrigerators and freezers are two types of appliances. We discovered a number of refrigerators and freezers that were giving people issues. They weren’t cycling correctly. Several of these older units resulted in significant increases in the bills of their owners.
The cooling fins on a refrigerator or freezer should be cleaned once a year, according to the manufacturer. Kotzebue can get fairly dusty in the summer. This dust will build up and eventually insulate the cooling fins, preventing the refrigerator or freezer from removing heat. This means that the unit will not work as intended and will not cycle or turn off.
Heat tape with an electric element. Many homeowners have installed heat tape on water and sewer pipes as a result of previous water line freeze-up issues.
Look for wiring that you aren’t familiar with in water and sewer lines under the home or under sinks. It’s not a good idea to leave heat tapes plugged in all the time; the thermostats on them frequently fail, resulting in fires.
Usage that is not approved. We’ve discovered extension cords plugged into outdoor receptacles on multiple occasions when working with members on their usage.
Consumers who don’t understand how their appliances and equipment use influences their electric costs are more likely to see higher bills.
What months have the highest electric bills?
The hours of the day did not matter in terms of electricity use until the majority of Texas deregulated the energy sector. Before deregulation, we never inquired whether electric rates were higher in the summer or the winter.
Electricity providers in a controlled energy market charge a single flat fee regardless of the time of day. They were able to do so since consumers did not have a choice in who provided their electricity.
To be competitive, REPs now divide the day into three distinct times and adjust their pricing from one to the next.
Mid-Peak Hours
“Mid-peak hours” refers to when electricity consumption is relatively average.
This usually happens on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., and in the summer from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Off-Peak Hours
It is referred to as “off-peak hours” when electricity consumption is at its lowest during the day.
These times will differ according on the Texas REP you use, so make sure to check with yours.
Is it true that winter is more expensive than summer?
Some states, such as Wisconsin, offer variable power pricing based on when you use it. This means that between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. (peak hours), your power charges are higher than between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m. (considered off-peak). Because of the air conditioning, peak rates are higher in the summer than in the winter. If you can transfer some of your electricity use to off-peak hours, you can save money on one of these programs.
Is there a spike in electricity usage during the winter?
According to the EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), the average residential customer will use 4% more electricity from December through March than they did last winter. This projection, however, is extremely reliant on winter temperatures. If temperatures continue to be warmer than forecast, as they have been for the past two months, average electricity demand may be slightly lower than the previous winter.
Seasonal electricity consumption patterns in households differ by area, with some places seeing their peak electric load during the winter months when the weather is bitterly cold. Because the days are shorter in the winter (resulting in more lighting usage), and some homes heat with electricity, either for their primary heating equipment, such as electric furnaces or heat pumps, or for secondary heating equipment, such as space heaters or electric blankets, consumption of electricity rises. Electric space heating is prevalent in the South census region, where over two-thirds of households use electricity to heat their homes. Despite the fact that electricity consumption in this region is higher in the summer, electricity consumption in the winter is sensitive to temperature variations.
Why is my summer electricity bill so high?
Summer increases energy demand in many locations, leading market prices to rise. If you’re on a variable-rate plan, your energy bill may go up this season. Even if you’re on a fixed-rate plan, if you’ve altered or renewed your power plan in the recent year, your electric prices may have climbed.
Why is my electric bill so high right now?
The top three causes of high energy bills include aging appliances, neglected appliance and window or door maintenance, and operating extra appliances that are no longer needed.
When is the most cost-effective time to use electricity?
Late at night or early in the morning, electricity is often cheaper, thus those are the times when you can save money on your power bill. This is due to the fact that these are off-peak hours, when fewer people are utilizing electricity.
Why does power cost more in the winter?
People use more electricity in the winter to be warm, so they put on their heaters and electric blankets, as well as take hot showers. Your power bill will be greater if you consume more electricity. A residential neighborhood utilizes more electricity during the winter months, as shown in the graph below.
How much energy does summer consume?
Summer is here! However, the warm weather we’ve been anticipating all year has coincided with significant increases in our utility expenditures. The average home spent $405 on power during the summer of 2015, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Cooling down your home, on the other hand, does not have to result in an increase in your energy cost. There are a few simple methods and suggestions that will help you save money on your energy bill while also helping to save the environment.
About half of the home’s energy budget is spent on heating and cooling. Finding the most efficient approach to ventilate your home will save you money and reduce your energy consumption.
Turn off your air conditioner when you don’t need it.
Turning your air conditioner off while you sleep can save you a lot of money. Even lowering the thermostat before leaving the house (assuming no one is home) can save money. In the summer, the temperature should be kept between 78 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooling costs can be cut by 4% to 8% for every degree when the thermostat is raised.
Use a programmable thermostat.
A programmable thermostat is a great way to save electricity. It allows you to schedule when your house will be empty and when you will be sleeping. It will alter the temperature of your home properly during such times. This eliminates the inconvenience of frequently regulating your thermostat as well as the fear of returning home to a hot house. The Nest is a fantastic example of a programmable thermostat. The Nest retails for $250, but the company claims that it can save you 20% on your electricity expenses.
Switch to ENERGY STAR appliances.
The ENERGY STAR is an award granted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to a product that fulfills the government’s strict energy-efficiency requirements in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A room air conditioner that is ENERGY STAR certified uses around 15% less energy than non-qualified ones. Over the unit’s lifespan, the 15% may save you roughly $85 in savings. Visit energystar.gov for additional information.
Check for thorough home insulation.
When air from the outside enters and conditioned air departs your home through cracks and gaps, you have air leakage. Although you may not realize it, this makes ventilating your home more difficult and expensive. Reducing the amount of air that leaks in and out of your home is a cost-effective approach to lower your cooling costs while also increasing the efficiency of your air conditioning system. Caulking and weather-stripping are two of the most basic and effective air-sealing treatments that pay off quickly. Weather-stripping is used to seal operational components such as doors and operable windows, and caulk is used to fill crevices and openings between stationary and foundational home components, such as around door and window frames.
Clean your air conditioning vents and units.
The filters, coils, and fins of an air conditioning unit must be cleaned on a regular basis in order for it to perform properly. Simply explained, an efficient air conditioner is one that is clean. Routinely replacing or cleaning your air conditioner’s filters is the most important piece of maintenance you can do to ensure maximum efficiency. Filters that are clogged or unclean prevent normal airflow and greatly diminish a system’s efficiency. Dirt and debris in the unit might block airflow and cause the evaporator to malfunction. Replacing a filthy, clogged filter with a clean one can reduce the energy usage of your air conditioner by 5% to 15%.
Turn on your ceiling fan.
A ceiling fan can be used in conjunction with your air conditioner. A ceiling fan will chill the room by about 4 degrees, allowing you to reduce the temperature on the thermostat. If the weather permits, you can even go without air conditioning and only use a fan.
Take advantage of natural ventilation.
Take advantage of cold nights or regular breezes if you live in a climate with them. When it gets cool outdoors, open the windows to completely eliminate the need of electricity.
Block the sun with blinds and drapes.
Window treatments or coverings can help you save energy as well as adorn your home. A few well-chosen window treatments can save your home from overheating in the summer sun. Blinds and drapes are the two window treatment options. Blinds can limit heat gain by up to 45 percent when fully pulled down and closed over a window with a lot of sun exposure. You can also prevent heat gain by closing drapes on windows that receive direct sunshine throughout the summer. Drapes can cut heat gain by up to 33%.
Don’t let a hefty electricity bill mar your vacation. Start saving money and the environment by following these simple steps!