Energy efficiency is very important when you want to save money on your electric bill. What is neat is the fact you don’t have to do a lot to be more energy efficient. Tasks that are as simple as changing the light bulbs you use can save you a great deal of money on your electric bill, but you can take it a lot further by having your St. Paul electrician take measures within your home that will make it more energy efficient. Sure, there may be an investment involved, but it will pay off over time.
Are CFLs Worth It?
You’ve probably seen those new fluorescent light bulbs that most people call “squiggly bulbs” screwed into a light fixture. They are pricier than a regular light bulb, but they do last longer. In fact, it is not unusual for one of these light bulbs to last up to five years, which means you are more or less getting one light bulb for every 6-12 or more regular light bulbs you would buy for a single light. The bulbs also use less energy to provide the same amount of light you would receive otherwise.
Here is why they save you money: They last 13 times longer than your usual incandescent bulb. Let’s say that lighting costs you $20 out of every $100 on your electric bill. Because CFLs only use 25% of the electricity an incandescent bulb does, you are saving about $15 of that $20 on your electric bill. That means you would only be paying $5 for every $100. Factor in the fact that you don’t have to replace the bulbs nearly as often and you have even more savings. The only downside is the small amount of mercury involved, which means great care needs to be taken when one of these bulbs break. They also need to be disposed of as hazardous waste, but this is something you only have to worry about over years and not months.
What Can Your Electrician Do?
First, you need an electrician St. Paul residents and businesses rely on for honest solutions to the energy efficiency question. Edison Electric Inc. is experienced in helping homeowners and business owners make their structures more energy efficient. One way residents make their homes more energy efficient is through the installation of ceiling fans so they can circulate heat during the winter and circulate cool air in the summers so that their HVAC units don’t have to work as hard, thus using less energy. Naturally, ceiling fans use a lot less energy than HVAC units.
Your electrician can also install more energy efficient lighting throughout the home. Combine the lighting with CFLs and you are going to experience a return on investment a lot sooner than you may think.
Another way to become more energy efficient is to have your old circuit breaker or fuse box replaced. Any time you upgrade any component of your electrical system, you are going to make it more efficient. Any time you have something modern and up to code that is going to be able to handle the load better, it is going to be more efficient.
Be More Energy Efficient Today
There are also little things that you can do, such as investing in energy efficient appliances and electrical devices. You can also turn off lights when you leave a room and turn off electrical devices when you aren’t using them. Combine this with the services that we can provide and you will see a significant reduction in your electric bill. To schedule an estimate, call us at 651-587-5512 and our technician will help you make decisions about the lighting, ceiling fans, and other components that can keep more money in your wallet and out of the hands of the electric company.
