Could Your Home Be Saving You Energy?
Sponsor Content Courtesy of National Grid
This season, we’ve all noticed energy costs rising, which means now is the perfect time to ensure your home is efficient. National Grid offers a variety of programs to assist you with this unprecedented change. Even the smallest changes—steps you can take yourself—can make a big difference. Ensuring your home is efficient can start with these simple tips to reduce your energy use and lower the impact on your monthly energy bills while keeping your home comfortable.
Stop Feeding Energy Vampires
Everyday appliances may be putting a stealthy drain on your power. Televisions, microwaves, and other common home electronics often use “standby” power, even when they’re switched off. Even chargers and charging stations can pull electricity when not in use (if a charger gets hot even when idle, that’s a sign it’s drawing power). In fact, studies have shown that “vampire” use of energy accounts for 5-10% of total electricity use in private homes—and about 1% of global CO2 emissions.* *Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
To vanquish those vampires - and start using less electricity today:
- Set devices to “energy save” mode
- Turn your monitor off when you step out
- Unplug electronics, chargers, and appliances when not in use
- Get an APS (Advanced Power Strip): it lets you turn all devices off (or on) at once, with specialized sockets that can give the same effect as unplugging each device from the wall.
Stacked Discounts On Exclusive Products Through Instant Rebates
National Grid customers can shop the online Marketplace for instant rebates. With no clipping or mailing needed, customers have access to exclusive discounts on products that make their home more efficient, varying from smart thermostats that adjust the temperature of your home to avoid using energy during peak periods, to Advanced Power Strips and LED light bulbs for electric customers.
Small Appliances: A Big Difference
Today’s small kitchen appliance technology is more efficient—and powerful—than ever before. In fact, many countertop models can do nearly everything an oven or stovetop can do…often at half the wattage. And the difference in power consumption makes intuitive sense: heating a smaller volume of space simply takes less energy.
Here’s why you might consider a smaller appliance instead of your oven, for daily use:
- Your microwave heats up food in minutes—using up to 80 percent less energy than your oven
- A countertop air fryer gets food hot and crispy in less time than an oven
- A crock pot draws far less energy than a stovetop—while letting you slow-cook meals for hours
Enhance Air Quality and Energy-Efficiency
Air purifiers/dehumidifiers can be very helpful in keeping your home comfortable all year round. You don’t need to sacrifice comfort or energy efficiency when improving your home’s air quality. Consider a highly energy-efficient, ENERGY STAR-certified air purifier and/or dehumidifier to help you breathe easier. You can improve your home’s air quality and increase comfort, all while saving energy.
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Winter Customer Saving Initiative
National Grid's Winter Customer Savings Initiative is part of the company's commitment to helping customers handle the impact of higher energy costs. Explore seasonal year-round programs to help you manage your bill, control your energy use, and access assistance if you need it.