5 Energy Myths That Are Making Your Utility Bills Higher Than They Should Be

No matter what we do, we can’t avoid utility bills. In an effort to make them lower, we might have adopted practices that we believe help lower our expenses on heating, cooling, and electricity.

But do they really?

Stay tuned as Buzzell Plumbing, Heating, and Air gets ready to bust some energy myths that make your utility bills higher than they ought to be.

Myth #1: Leaving Appliances Plugged in Doesn’t Use Electricity

Many people believe that appliances, such as phone chargers, don't use electricity when they're not in use or when they're turned off. However, even when an appliance is turned off, it's still using energy, especially if it's plugged in. This phenomenon is called "phantom energy" or "vampire energy."

According to the US Department of Energy, phantom energy can account for up to 10% of your electricity bill. Therefore, it's essential to unplug appliances when they're not in use to avoid wasting energy and money.

Myth #2: Using a Space Heater Is Cheaper Than Heating the Whole House

Another thing that people do to save on utility bills is to use a space heater to heat a single room. They’re operating on the mistaken notion that it’s cheaper to heat one room with a space heater than the entire house with their HVAC system. 

However, this is not necessarily true. While using a space heater can be more energy-efficient than heating your entire home, it can also be more expensive.

Space heaters use a lot of energy to generate heat, and they can quickly drive up your electricity bill. Additionally, space heaters are not very effective at heating large areas, so you may need to use more than one to heat a whole room. This can further increase your energy consumption and cost.

Myth #3: Turning Off Lights and Electronics When You Leave the Room Doesn't Make a Difference

Do you believe that turning off lights and electronics when you leave the room won’t make a significant difference in your energy consumption? 

This is one of those energy myths that make your utility bills higher each month. Turning off lights and electronics when you leave the room can save you a lot of energy and money in the long run. 

Switching off one 60-watt incandescent bulb that's on for four hours a day can save you $9 a year. Imagine how much you could save by turning off all the lights and electronics in your home when you're not using them.

Myth #4: Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Saves Energy

If you’ve been closing vents in unoccupied rooms because you think it saves money by redirecting airflow to other parts of the house, stop. Closing vents can increase your energy consumption and cost you more money.

When you close vents in unused rooms, you disrupt the airflow in your HVAC system. This can cause the system to work harder as it pushes air through the rest of the house. The result? Your energy consumption goes up while your HVAC wears out faster. 

Keep all vents open to maintain proper airflow and avoid wasting energy and money.

Myth #5: Keeping the Temperature Constant Is More Energy Efficient