Power saving and money saving: Shaving costs off your electric bill
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - These days, we are all looking for any way we can to save a little bit of money.
How does trimming some off of the monthly electric bill sound?
There is a lot of internet hype about ways to save money on electricity but which ones work and which ones don't?
If you take a look around your home, there is a cost to everything that uses electricity.
According to earthtech.ca, the Amazon Echo can be operated for an average of $3.50 per year and the Google Home comes in around $2.30 annually.
Your coffee maker with its clock and timer, your cable box, and your chargers, are all drawing what is often called "vampire" or "phantom" power.
"It's an interesting concept, and it's more than a concept, it's a reality," explained Todd Meyers with West Penn Power. "The home electronics, the computers, the monitors, smart TVs, times five all over your house."
According to the federal government's website, Energy.gov, they estimate those devices just sitting around on standby can account for anywhere between 5-to-10-percent of your home's energy, which is why it's suggested you unplug them until you need them.
"Undoing those, or turning those off somehow when you aren't using them, that may add up to maybe $100-$200 a year," Meyers said.
He said you can accomplish the same things by disconnecting that extra fridge in the basement or the garage.
"I'd rather unplug one thing once then, you know deal with turning off power strips in every room every night," he said.
