Identify and Defeat Phantom Power and Treat
Your Energy Bill
OAKLAND,
Calif., Oct. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Silent
energy suckers are scattered throughout your home and business,
often hiding in plain sight. These invisible drains on electricity
can quietly add up to increased power use, even when appliances and
devices are in standby mode or turned off, putting additional
strain on energy budgets. Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E) is helping identify these costly energy vampires, and
support customers with practical ways to lower their energy
consumption and save money on monthly bills.
Many of the appliances and devices customers use are always
plugged in. But these always-on appliances and electronics can
account for nearly a quarter of customers' annual electricity
bill and can cost the average U.S. household up to
$200 a year. According to the Natural
Resources Defense Council, the wasted energy across the country is
equivalent to brewing 234 cups of coffee every single day for a
year.
Biggest Electricity-guzzling Ghouls:
- Television
- Smart Speakers/Smart Home Devices
- Cell Phone/Tablet Chargers
- Modem/Internet Router
- Gaming Consoles
- Desktop Computers & Laptops
- Countertop Kitchen Appliances: coffee makers, kettles,
microwaves
These small no-cost and low-cost changes can help lower energy
usage and provide relief when every bit of savings matters:
- Unplug devices when not in use
- Use advanced power strips
- Turn lights off when you leave the room
- Upgrade to Energy Star® certified appliances
- Use PG&E's free energy and money-saving online tools: Home
Energy Checkup and Energy Action Guide.
- Sign up for HomeIntel: a free program for PG&E
customers with a Smart Meter, includes a free Smart Audit account
& personal energy coach.
- Use a Kill A Watt® Meter: a device that plugs into the
wall to read how much energy is being consumed by an electrical
device.
- Use a Plug Load Logger: a device that measures and records
power and energy consumption and provides time-stamped information
for a detailed analysis.
- Kill A Watt® meters and plug load loggers are available to
borrow at the PG&E Energy Centers Tool Lending
Library (shipping rates may apply) or check your local library
for availability. The devices can also be purchased at your nearest
hardware store and online.
A comprehensive home idle load self-diagnosis and action guide
can also be found here.
Energy Efficiency DIY Tool Kit
Did you know you can
lower energy bills and save money with an energy efficiency DIY
tool kit? With an investment of less than $200 in energy-efficient materials, customers can
save hundreds of dollars annually on their energy bills.
Energy Efficiency Support Programs
- Energy Savings Assistance (ESA): provides income-eligible
customers with energy-savings improvements at no charge.
- GoGreen Home Financing: a statewide program which offers
affordable financing for energy efficiency upgrades to help
homeowners and renters reduce their energy use.
- Golden State Rebates: This is a statewide program that provides
residential residents with instant rebates on energy-efficient
products including smart thermostats, air conditioners, and water
heaters. Homeowners and renters are eligible to receive these
rebates through single-use coupons they can redeem in-store or
online at participating retailers.
Additional Assistance Boo-st
Watch this video to
see the HomeIntel team in action, as a personal energy coach helps
identify and eliminate energy vampires.
Additional energy and money-saving strategies that can help
customers prepare for the cooler temperatures can be found at
pge.com.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a
subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined
natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million
people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information,
visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ward-off-energy-waste-unmask-ghostly-gadgets-save-energy-and-money-with-home-energy-efficiency-tricks-302283588.html
SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company