by David Kramer

Created on: March 12, 2010

Cutting an electric bill involves cutting use of power, but what is not clear is how.  This article addresses several tips to better control power consumption with the end result of savings on the electrical utility bill. 

The first step is to understand where power is being used.  Go through each room, garage, indoor and out, and first look at ever power outlet.  Take an assessment of what is plugged in.  All those power adapters, if they are plugged in and the plug is live, it’s using electricity even if the item it normally charges is not connected.   Always unplug them when they are not in use.   It will not only reduce the electricity they consume, but reduce cooling costs if air conditioning is in use.  Power adapters and other electrical devices generate heat, heat that contributes to the overall cost of cooling a room.

In a finding all the parasitic loads like power adapters, look at other electronics that have adapters or power supplies built in.   Some of the old televisions sets with picture tubes, for example had an “instant on” feature.  Normally these tubes have to heat up to function, but to achieve the instant on, they were constantly drawing power even when off.  

Microwave ovens are another good example; many have built in clocks that are always displaying the time of day when it’s not being used for cooking.  If your microwave has a setting to turn off the display, turn it off.  The transformer in the oven will still be drawing power but minimally.

Once everything plugged in is assessed, look at the light switches.   Many mistakenly believe that by using a dimmer switch they are using less power because the lights are not as bright.   This is not true, most dimmer switches are simply rectifiers which do not reduce the power used, they convert some of the power into heat and dissipate it causing less power to go to the lights, but the total power usage is the same.

Next consider what is really necessary.   Is it essential to have a light go on every time the refrigerator is opened?  Use common sense around the premises and reduce or remove things that are not really needed.  Some people have even eliminated their refrigerators completely.  Those living in the city near grocery stores simply take advantage of the free refrigeration they can use at the local 24-hour mega grocery store. 

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