Most Americans track their monthly expenditures. An important line item to remember is energy consumption and the amount of electricity used each billing cycle.
Have you ever contemplated the way energy is measured? Have your clients? The most common measurement method used is a watt-hour (Wh). Appliances, lights, water heaters, HVAC equipment, and space heaters account for most of the energy we use and pay for each billing period — and each of these energy-consuming pieces of equipment should be marked with a wattage rating. Most commonly used household appliances also include a nameplate rating, which indicates the amount of electrical power the product requires to function correctly.
For example, a light bulb could have a 60W rating, and a space heater could have a 3,000W rating. Multiply the wattage by the number of hours used to calculate the amount of electricity consumed by each item in each billing cycle. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) equals 1,000Wh, which means that using a 3,000W space heater for 1 hour will consume 3kWh of electricity. This is what is used to calculate the charges of a residential electricity bill.
To provide exceptional electrical service, it’s our responsibility to relay to clients how to save money on energy costs, especially during peak summer hours. Use the following tips* to educate your client on how to lower their monthly bill.
1. Encourage your clients to calculate their expected energy consumption based on the appliances they use and how many hours they expect to use each appliance; then have them track their usage for a few months for comparison purposes. This will help them set expectations and budget in a more insightful way.
2. Share the value of replacing traditional lamps with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). These lamps use 75% less electricity. They also produce 90% less heat. This can save a household up to $30 per lamp over its life.
3. Tell your clients they can save up to 16% on their energy bill by turning up their air conditioner thermostat 1° to 2°. They can save more by using a programmable thermostat. Every degree above 78° can save up to 8% on an energy bill.
4. Make your clients aware they can save up to 5% by turning their electric water heater down 10°.
5. Suggest turning off lights and unplugging TVs, coffee makers, etc., when leaving a room/the home. Appliances account for roughly 20% of the average single-family home’s energy usage. All electrical devices use some power when they’re turned off but still plugged in. Unplugging just six devices that are normally left plugged in can save up to $40 a year.
6. Unplug phone chargers, laptops, and similar items once charging is complete. Watch out for video game consoles, which can be energy hogs.
7. Ask your clients if they know that by keeping the refrigerator and freezer full it uses less energy. If they purchase a more energy-efficient refrigerator, remind them not to store old refrigerators in the garage or other unair-conditioned spaces. This makes it work much harder, costing more money.
8. Finally, suggest a seasonal inspection to make sure all your clients’ equipment is working correctly.
*Texas, P. U. (2019, April 5). Quick Savings for Homes. Retrieved from Powertosavetexas.org: http://powertosavetexas.org/Home/QuickSavingsHome.
Talbot is a licensed, master electrician in Georgia, where he was born and raised. He has been in the industry for 17 years and is currently the operations manager for Mister Sparky Atlanta, where he manages a team of technicians. In his spare time, he plays with his kids, volunteers, and is flipping his fourth house. He can be reached at [email protected].
