Energy Management Solutions: How to Catch Phantom Electricity Users

The film The Queen of Versailles depicts a billionaire couple, Jacki and David Siegel, as they face a financial crisis [caused] by an economic decline. As the couple watches their empire crumble over a two-year span, viewers may see a tell-tale sign that they were financially in trouble before they admitted it.

The most obvious sign was in the form of a sticky note. One which David Siegel posted on every light-switch in the house that read: “TURN OFF THE LIGHTS”. The documentary showed that even a billionaire knows that in order to reduce your electricity bill, you need to turn off the lights.

The fastest and most efficient way to reduce your electricity bill is to change your light bulbs from incandescent to fluorescent, or LED lighting. This allows you to keep the same amount of lights on, while using less electricity. For example, a 4.5W LED can replace a 35W halogen lamp, and still provide the same amount of light.

To further reduce your electricity bill, you have to catch the phantom electricity users. But first you need to know where they are in order to shut them down, or switch them off, so to speak.

Phantom electricity users are the electrical devices that you constantly leave plugged in, thereby allowing them to use electricity twenty-four hours a day. You typically leave them plugged in so you can readily access them with the flick of a switch or the click of a button. These include refrigerators, entertainment systems, computers, phone chargers, appliances, coffee machines, radios, central air fans, and other electronic devices. These devices can use less than a 5W to under 100W— but the older they are, the more electricity they use.

Crew Zone (Community Renewable Energy Waterloo) conducted a study and found that phantom electricity users make up more than 25% of the average base usage. They determined this by turning everything off until there was no electricity being drawn from the grid.

Unplugging your appliances can significantly reduce your electricity bill. See the tips below for more money-saving bonuses:

• Install dimmer switches— This allows you to use only as much light as you need.
• Keep your refrigerator and freezer full— Food acts as insulation, and lessens the amount of time that your refrigerator has to run to stay cool.
• Install ceiling fans— Keep the air circulating in your home to prevent overuse of your air conditioner.
• Line dry your laundry— Set up a clothesline in your back yard, and let Mother Nature dry your laundry. If this isn't an option, consider hanging your clothes on a drying rack or on your shower rod.
• Shield your home from the sun— Cut down on your air conditioning use by closing curtains and blinds on the sunny side of your home. For even more savings, consider installing tinted window film.

 The right energy strategy can dramatically reduce your operating costs and help you meet your business goals. The FirstCarbon Solutions team includes some of the most experienced and knowledgeable energy consultants to help you make the most effective decisions about energy use in your business.To learn more, contact us: