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Wintertime Appliance Use
As we move through the winter months, with all of the rightful focus on controlling heating costs, it’s sometimes easy to forget that many household appliances are used more often this time of year and also contribute to high energy use.
Remembering some simple tips will help to keep energy bills in check.
Among the more popular gifts this past holiday season were high-definition TVs and video games. High-def TVs offer amazing picture clarity – at up to five times the energy use of a standard TV. So I recommend turning off TVs and video game controllers when they’re not being used..
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High-def TVs offer amazing picture
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Computer efficiency has improved over the years, but today’s more powerful processors can still take a toll on your energy bill. An ENERGY STAR qualified computer uses 70 percent less electricity than those without the qualification. If left inactive, ENERGY STAR computers enter a low-power mode and use 15 watts of electricity or less.
Contrary to a common misconception, it’s best to turn off computers and monitors completely when they won’t be used for an extended period of time.
Because 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off, consider plugging them into power strips. Shutting off the strip will cut down on what’s known as “phantom power” by ensuring that your electronic devices aren’t still using electricity even when they’re off.
Cooking and baking also tend to increase during the winter months. Electric ovens use about 3,500 watts of electricity, while stovetop elements can use over 2,000 watts each. By comparison, microwave ovens use about 1,000 watts. Because they also cook and heat in less time than conventional ovens or stovetops, it’s best to use microwaves whenever possible.
To see how much energy your home entertainment equipment and appliances are using, click on “Appliance Operating Calculator” in the right-side menu above. You can also find more energy-saving tips and information about our rebates and programs by clicking “Energy Efficiency.”
In my next column, I’ll discuss what it means when appliances earn the ENERGY STAR label and offer examples of how that benefits you.
Bill Stack is a Residential Program Manager in NSTAR's energy efficiency department. He can be reached by emailing brightideas@nstar.com. If you're a member of the media and would like to arrange an interview with Bill, please call Caroline Allen (617-424-2460) or Mike Durand (508-441-5831).
