Calculate Your Energy Usage and Save Money in Your CA Home

Calculate Your Energy Usage and Save Money in Your CA Home

Those of us living in Southern California are accustomed to paying higher energy costs, and we are also always looking for ways to save energy and cut down on our utility bills. Many homeowners don’t understand where all the electricity on their bill has gone, and which appliances or activities are costing them more. Calculating your energy usage is an important step in decreasing your wasted energy and lowering your monthly electric bills. There are a few simple steps you can follow to assess where all the energy is going in your home.

1. Evaluate or upgrade your HVAC system. Heating and cooling systems are the biggest energy-user in your home, and need regular maintenance. There may be a leak or clogged filter that is causing the system to run inefficiently, or it may simply be time to replace it with a newer model.
2. Check out your appliances. Refrigerators, washing machines and dryers make up a large percentage of your electric bill. You can adapt your routine to save energy with these machines, by washing clothes in cold water, and opening the refrigerator door less, but if the model is especially old and clunky, you might save more by replacing it with a new Energy Star approved model.
3. Decrease phantom load. Most electronics still draw energy even when turned off. Unplug TVs, computers and small kitchen gadgets when not in use, or attach everything to power strips for an easy way to actually switch them all off at once.

If you don’t have time for calculating your energy usage yourself, or prefer a deeper inspection of your home’s energy profile, a home energy evaluation is an excellent option. A professional energy inspector will visit your home and examine your appliances, HVAC systems, and the sealing and insulation of your home. Professional auditors use tools, such as thermographic cameras, that most of us don’t have access to, and they can give in-depth advice about where energy is being wasted and what can be done to fix it.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Monrovia, California area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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For more information on calculating your energy usage, contact us at Air-Tro, Inc. today.