Should I Unplug Alexa or Turn Down My Water Heater?
You may look over at your smart speaker and wonder how much energy it’s using with that blue light. Of course you can try asking it, but it’s not in the best interest to let you know.
I’ve been hearing about “energy vampires” since I was a kid and was reminded often to turn the light off when I left the room. But today with smart technology, the vampires have come back with a vengeance.
According to a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council, roughly 25% of all residential energy usage is from devices that appear to be turned off but are not.
Standby power accounts for 5% to 10% of residential energy use, according to the Department of Energy. But with so many things plugged in, do you really want to run around and unplug them all every morning? I know I don’t. So lets’ take at your big energy wasters.
Rating Energy Vampires
Typically the bigger the device, the more energy it uses. One exception might be computers. My son’s gaming computer is fashioned with neon lights and extra fans to cool the CPU, making this a top energy suck in my home.
Freezers and Refrigerators: You easily wast 300 kWh per year here or about $38 dollars, but you would lose more in food if you unplug them. So, instead look for Energy Smart labels for these.
Hot water heaters: This is a big one. Water heaters use about 20% of a home’s energy, more than your refrigerator, clothes washer, dishwasher, and dryer combined! Even if you are not at home, the water heater maintains the same temperature you set it at so you can have a nice hot shower. Turn your heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and you'll cut your water heating costs by 6-10 percent.
An ENERGY STAR certified electric water heater can save a household of four more $550 per year on its electric bills.
Outdated HVAC Systems: Old heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems run inefficiently, often overworking to maintain comfort levels and wasting energy in the process. Without advanced controls, they end up consuming more power while providing less comfort. I installed a mini-split system which allows me to control the heating and cooling in each room individually, while also letting me change the temperature remotely. So, if I accidentally leave the AC or heat on I can just login to my phone’s app.
Inefficient Lighting: Old incandescent or fluorescent lighting fixtures guzzle electricity, especially in buildings where lights are left on for extended periods, compared to modern LED systems. These bulbs use more power and emit more heat, which adds to cooling loads in warmer months.
Computers and Gaming: According to the NRDC report you should focus on unplugging your modem/wifi, gaming consoles, and TV if you want to save the most, which will save you about $60 a year and and 500 kWh. Smart TVs with features like Wi-Fi and satellite connectivity are even worse. On the other hand, the talkative Amazon Echo uses about as much as your laptop in standby at 62 kWh per year.
Small potatoes include items like chargers (18 kWh), clocks (18 kWh), and surprisingly dishwashers, but only when not in use (16 kWh).
Smart Solutions to Dumb Energy
First things first. Unplug devices and/or turn them off. No more standby. Once devices are charged, disconnect the device and unplug the charger.
Smart power strips allow you to automatically cut power to devices that go into standby mode.Smart plugs turn appliances, phone chargers, basically anything you plug in, into a smart device. You can control, schedule, or just simply turn on or off, the power to an electric device even when you’re not there to unplug it. The great thing about the newer smart power strips is that you can track energy use for each device, then make the choice of which ones you can unplug.
For a more thorough analysis, consider hiring a professional to conduct an energy audit. Auditors use advanced tools, like infrared cameras and blower door tests, to assess the building’s performance.
