Have you ever considered why your power bills keep increasing when you’re not using more electronics? There may be secret energy hogs in your home. For example, old machines and windows that don’t have enough insulation can cause you to use more energy without even realizing it.

These energy vampires not only waste power but also make your home less efficient, which raises your monthly bills. The good news is that a few easy changes can save more money and use less energy. Let’s look at the main offenders and what you can do now.

Outdated electronics

Many people keep old machines even though they know they use a lot more energy than they should. Refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers that are more than 10 years old use a lot more electricity to do basic jobs than newer models.

Why do they waste energy?

• Older machines do not have the latest energy-saving technology, so they use more power.
• Older motors and worn-out parts need more electricity to work.
• A lot of the time, they run longer processes than they need to, which uses more energy.

How to resolve

• To save energy and keep working at their best, ENERGY STAR-certified products are the way to go.
• If you can’t afford new appliances, regular care, like cleaning the coils and replacing worn-out seals, can help them work better.
• To save energy, try using appliances during non-peak hours of the day. 

Drafty Windows and Doors

Windows and doors are critical to a home’s energy efficiency. Inadequately sealed ones let the conditioned air escape, making your heating and cooling systems work harder than they need to.

Signs of Energy-Leaking Drafts

• It gets cold near windows in the winter, and warm air seeps in during the summer.
• The HVAC system in your home is running more often than usual.
• You can see gaps between the frames of doors and windows.

How to Resolve

• Use weatherstripping or caulk to fill in any holes or cracks.
• Putting up thermal shades will help keep heat inside in the winter and keep the sun out in the summer.
• Replace your windows with ones that use less energy. These windows insulate better and help keep the temperature inside stable.

Phantom Loads

Your electronic device chargers that you keep plugged in use small amount of power even when not used. Over time, these “phantom loads” add up and increase your energy price for no reason.

Phantom energy-stealing Devices

• Chargers for phones, iPads and laptops
• TVs and video game consoles
• Countertop ovens, microwaves and coffee makers with digital clocks.
• Desktop computers and printers 

How to Fix

• Turn off wall outlets when not in use.
• Turn off or unplug older power strips. Smart power strips will turn off gadgets when they are not in use.
• Use smart plugs or timers to make things turn on and off automatically.

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Bad Home Insulation

Your home’s insulation tells you how well it keeps heat in during the winter and cool during the summer. Poor insulation requires your heating and cooling systems to work harder, which uses more energy.

Indicators of Bad Insulation

• Extreme temperature changes inside your home from season to season.
• In the winter, some or all of your rooms get very cold. 
• The bills for heating and cooling are higher than planned.

How to resolve

• Go solar. A properly sized and designed solar system offers much greater seasonal control over your bill.  
• Add more insulation to the ceiling, walls and floors to keep the temperature inside stable.
• Use spray foam or fiberglass insulation to stop air leaks in key places.
• Put door sweeps on the bottom of your outdoor doors to prevent air from leaking.

Inefficient Lighting

If you still use old fashioned incandescent bulbs in your home you’re wasting money on energy. These lights waste power by turning most of it into heat instead of light.

How to Fix

• Change your light bulbs to LED or CFL ones. They last a lot longer and use up to 80% less energy.
• Use natural light during the day to reduce the need for artificial lighting.
• Use motion monitors or bright lighting to ensure lights aren’t left on when they’re not needed.

Old Thermostats

If your thermostat doesn’t have setting options, it could use more energy than needed. It costs you money to keep your heating and cooling system at a steady temperature, even when you’re not home.

How to Resolve

• Put in a smart timer that changes the temperature based on what you do daily.
• Lower the winter night temperature and then boost it when you’re not home in the summer to conserve electricity.
• With split heating and cooling you can set different room temperatures independently.

Water Heaters Hidden Energy Loss

Heating water uses a lot of energy especially if your water heater is old or inefficient.

How to Resolve:

• Bring the water heater to 120°F to stop it from heating up too much.
• To keep the heat in longer insulate your water heater and pipes.
• Install a tankless water heater for on demand warmth that does not waste energy when it’s not in use.

High Energy Use Household Habits

Even if you have energy-efficient tools, bad habits can still cause you to use too much electricity.

Usual Energy Waste

• Using dishwashers and washing machines with loads that are only half full.
• Leaving the fridge door open for too long makes it use more power.
• Using old ceiling fans that don’t work well.

How to Fix

• Avoid overusing appliances and operate them at full capacity.
• Frequent defrosting improves freezer performance.
• Replace your old ceiling fans with energy-efficient ones with smart speed controls.

Conclusion

You do not have to waste energy in your house. Easy changes like sealing windows, adding more insulation and replacing old appliances with ones that use less energy can save you a lot of energy, lower your utility bills and make your home more comfortable.

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