Appliances Eating Up Your Money? Probably! Stop the Feeding Frenzy
What's Up?
Are electric "vampires" eating up your money? Probably. Most homes have a variety of appliances that are gobbling up the money. But you can stop the feasting by implementing several small easy steps.
You will be amazed at how much money you can save.
Idea
Make saving energy fun. Hunt down the energy "vampires" in your home. Then implement several easy solutions which will help reduce your electric bill. See the savings flow in.
To make the savings tangible, put the actual dollars saved in a jar or bank for the family to see. This will help everyone visualize when they turn off a TV, or a radio, that it equals real money.
What are Electric Vampires?
Appliances that use energy even when you are not using them.
Examples: Electric Toothbrush, TV, DVD Player, Any item with a clock or stand-by feature, Satellite System, Cordless Phone, Battery Charger, Toaster, Video Game, Computer, Internet Terminal, Mostly empty spare refrigerator, Power Strips with Lights
Easy Implementation Ideas
- Unplug easy to reach items when not in use. For example, toothbrush, cell phone charger, coffee maker, or stereo.
- Hibernate or turn off your computer when you are not using it. Only turn your printer on when you need it.
- If you have an extra refrigerator or freezer that is not very full, consider not using it. It can cost you over $300 a year for an extra appliance. It also costs significantly more to cool an empty refrigerator/freezer than a full one. Another idea is to consider sharing the space with a neighbor or a friend and split the cost of the energy.
- Turn off TVs, DVD players, satellite systems, etc.. with a power strip. You only need to turn one button off at night. (Note -- if you turn Satellite system off, anything you have recording won't record.)
- Unplug appliances in rooms that are rarely used. For example, a clock radio in a spare bedroom, or in the garage. It could save you $5 a month in electric or $60 a year.
Have Fun
There are several fun ways to search for and reduce the number of vampires.
Organize a family scavenger hunt.
Explain to the kids what energy vampires are. Then send them on their search. Consider awarding a prize to the child that finds the most vampires.
An excellent tool to help with hunt is Energy Vampire Hunt, by Energy Hog. It gives directions on how to conduct a fun and thorough scavenger hunt.
Create a Reward System
Create a system where you reward everyone in the family when they turn off a TV, or unplug an appliance. For example, for each time a child unplugs the TV a quarter goes into a jar. Or they get a snack like a piece of gum.
Set a Goal For a Vacation or Special Item
Explaining to your kids that every time they leave the TV on, that the TV is actually eating money.
Set a goal as a family of what they want to earn money for. As the electric bill decreases each month, have a celebration party where you put the money saved, in a jar. Also physically show the kids how close they are getting to the goal they set through a graph or chart.
When you have reached your goal, make a very big deal out of it. Celebrate the hard work.
How Does It Help?
Monetarily
On average, 15% of the electric bill each month is for electronic devices. So reducing their usage can save money each month.
If your electric bill is $200 a month, then on average you spend $30 to run electronic appliances like a TV. If you could cut that by 1/3, that is $10 a month, or $120 a year.
Actual savings could be much larger. See the blog in Sami's Spot for true accounts of money saved on electric bills.
Environmentally
Reducing your need for electricity helps the environment. Electricity is generated through many methods such as wind, coal, gas, nuclear, and water. By reducing demand, less electricity needs to be produced; therefore, less natural resources are burned to create the electricity. Also if we can reduce electricity demand, hopefully less electricity will be generated from coal or natural gas plants, which helps with green house gas emissions.
Parent(s)
Your child will need help with this project. Ensure the kids are aware of electric outlet safety.
