Cut Energy Use to Reduce Electric Bills

North Dakotans use more electricity and have higher bills than residents in neighboring states, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports.

While North Dakotans pay nearly the lowest retail price per kilowatt for electricity in the nation, their average monthly bill is higher than in neighboring states, such as Minnesota and Montana, because of the higher energy usage.

North Dakotans could lower their bills by reducing their electricity consumption, and they have some simple ways to do that, says Carl Pedersen, energy educator with the North Dakota State University Extension Service.

Heating a home can use considerable amounts of energy, according to Pedersen. If a home that uses electric heat is not properly insulated and sealed to keep out the cold, the heating bill will be affected.

“Homeowners can take a quick look around for areas of heat loss,” Pedersen says. “Is the basement insulated? Does the attic have at least 18 inches of insulation? Are there cold spots, indicating air leakage around doors and windows? These are questions homeowners can ask themselves.”

Making wise purchases on appliances also can lower electric bills.

“Every appliance or electronic device you purchase has two prices associated with it: the original purchase price and the price of operating the device,” Pedersen says. “Many people shop for the lowest-priced item but do not take into account how much that particular appliance or electronic device could cost them each year in utility costs.”

For example, people frequently overlook televisions are a source of electricity usage, he says. Plasma televisions, which are very popular, may draw as much as 500 watts of electricity while in use.

People also may forget that devices such as televisions continue to draw electricity even when they are not in use because they are on standby power. TVs need to be on standby power, or use electricity constantly, for the remote control to work. Energy-efficient TVs will have low usage rates of electricity while on as well as off.

Doing a little research before purchasing a new electronic device could pay off, Pedersen says. Numerous websites provide energy consumption information for appliances to help people select the most energy-efficient items. Plus, most home appliances will have an EnergyGuide label that lists the average amount of energy the appliance will consume in a year and the average cost for that energy.

However, EnergyGuide labels are not required on home electronics. To find the most energy-efficient home electronics, look for the ENERGY STAR label. ENERGY STAR is a continually updated rating system that labels a particular appliance or electronic device as being energy efficient.

For example, an ENERGY STAR-rated refrigerator will be at least 15 percent more efficient than the current federal requirements. It also will be 40 percent more efficient than the typical model sold just 10 years ago.

For more information about energy efficiency, check out the NDSU Extension Service’s energy website at http://www.NDSU.edu/energy, or contact Pedersen at (701) 231-5833 or carl.pedersen@ndsu.edu.

To see how states rank in energy usage and costs for electricity, visit http://www.eia.gov/electricity/sales_revenue_price/pdf/table5_a.pdf.

NDSU Agriculture Communication - Nov. 22, 2011