IB MAG FINAL MINA

ENERGY
Agood way to cut down on your spending is to gradually target
different expenditures. Lowering your energy bill is a nice
option — not only is it a monthly expenditure, but you can also do
some good for the environment while saving money. Here are
some suggestions for reducing your electricity usage and costs:
1. Unplug when not in use. Even when they're not in use, your
electronics can still eat up electricity as long as they're plugged in — yes,
even chargers that aren't connected to anything. There are many items we
don't think about unplugging, including microwaves, digital picture frames,
and more. Even though the power lost by these "vampire" electronics may
not be much, everything adds up.
2. Use a power strip. Get a power strip and try to plug as many electronics as you can
into it. That way, it won't be as arduous to individually shut off or unplug each appliance.
You can turn them all off with one flick of the switch or unplug the power strip from its
outlet to completely stonewall the "vampire" electronics.
3. Energy audit. An energy audit may be helpful in figuring out the problem areas in
your home that you may be unaware of. The auditor will help advise you on how you can
reduce energy consumption and how to ramp up efficiency when heating and cooling
houses.\
4. Replace your bulbs. Replace your lightbulbs with energy-efficient ones to save
energy and money. An energy-efficient bulb uses 75 percent less energy than a
traditional incandescent bulb and lasts six times longer.
5. Seal your leaks. Your home may not be properly insulated, which means you might
be losing a lot of energy through the leaks. Cool air from outside can be sneaking into
your home, causing you to turn up the heat.
1 4
Inglewood Business Magazine July - September 2015