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Reducing Electric Usage in the Home and Business

  • By voltix
  • October 8, 2018
  • By Digma
  • October 8, 2018
  • 9:48 am

Reducing Electric Usage in the Home and Business

11 Useful Tips to Reduce Electric Usage and Save Cost

Utility bills constitute a significant aspect of your household budget or business running cost. While you may consider it minimal initially, however, it eventually adds up. At the end of the month, the electric company will charge you exorbitantly for your energy usage. If care is not taken, the cost will only continue to increase.

If you have been looking for how to reduce your electric usage either at home or in your workplace, this article is for you. Here, we will provide you with useful tips to help you reduce electricity usage and save cost.

Carry Out a Comprehensive Energy Audit

The first step to reducing your electric usage at home or office is to determine the amount of energy you consume. Hire the expertise of a professional energy auditor to conduct a well-detailed energy audit of your home or office building. This should include thermal imaging and a blower door test. With this, you will have a precise idea of the amount of energy you use.

Turn Off the Lights

Make it a duty to turn off lights that are not in use. If the home or workplace has large windows that are adequately illuminated, you are encouraged to use natural daylight when possible. You can instruct your employees or the last person leaving home to turn off the lights when going out.

Use LED Lighting or Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Another excellent way to save energy at home is by using CFL or LED light bulbs. Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) and LED light bulbs use 75% less power compared to other luminous alternatives like halogen bulbs or traditional incandescent. Asides that, these bulbs can serve for an extended period. While the CFL and LED bulbs often cost more, the money related payback is 100% justified.

Use EnergyStar Electrical Appliances

Many EPA-approved EnergyStar appliances consume appropriately 10% to 50% less energy compared to other traditional home electrical appliances. Since they consume less energy, they will help reduce your electricity usage and save cost. Whether at home or workplace, ensure that you are using energy efficient appliances.

Unplug Your Appliances When Not In Use

It is a popular belief that unused electrical appliances do not consume energy when plugged in. However, this is not true. Stand-by also consumes energy. Like the television, washing machine, microwave, and other appliances that are connected to the power outlets, they use up energy. Although, the energy consumed is less, compared to when in use. Nevertheless, after turning off these household or office appliances, ensure that you unplug them.

Adjust the Thermostat

A lot of energy is consumed by the heating and cooling systems. To reduce this, set the temperature to 68°F (20°C) in cool weather and 78°F (26°C) in warm weather. Use a fan to keep everyone comfortable when possible.

Use a Smart or Programmable Thermostat

Also, take advantage of a programmable thermostat to regulate your home or office temperature. These programmable thermostats are highly efficient in regulating temperature. They will control your heating and cooling systems automatically. Hence, the inside temperature of your home will be regulated when required. Above all, they are perfect to save energy and cost.

Plant Trees around Your Surroundings

Planting trees near your property can also help in insulating the home or office. Plant trees at strategic distances to create pockets of air space. This will help protect the building against hot and cold temperatures.  Asides that, planting trees can help the eco-system and beautify your home or office.

Properly Insulate Your Home

An ideal approach to ensure your heater and AC units are not working too much is to insulate your home properly. With this, you will only be responsible for regulating the temperature of your home. Thus, saving more energy in the process.

Keep Your Building Airtight – Seal Leakages in Windows and Doorways

Approximately half of your electricity usage goes to heating and cooling. To keep the temperature regulated and even, ensure that doors and windows are airtight. Seal all leakages in windows, doorways, crawl spaces, and other entrances leading to your home or office. With this, your HVAC system will keep the temperature inside the building well-regulated without overworking the system.

Fill Up Your Freezer, Washer, and Dryer Completely

To optimally utilize large electrical appliances such as refrigerator, washing machine, freezer, dryer, and so forth, the right thing is to fill them completely. Do a full heap of laundry. Keep your freezer and refrigerator fully-packed. This helps to keep cold temperatures more efficiently, unlike refrigerator with empty units.

There you have it! Above are a couple of tips to help reduce electricity usage both at home and at your workplace. Don’t wait until your electricity bills continue to increase exponentially before doing the right thing. By making use of the energy saving tips mentioned above, you can efficiently conserve energy, reduce electricity usage, and save monthly utility cost.

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Stephen M, Lead Technician – Lighting Specialist

Steve brings many years of electrical experience and lighting experience. Steve is well versed in all facets of lighting including HID Lighting, LED Lghting, Energy Conservation, Bucket Trucks, Sign lighting.

Perry W, Lead Technician

Patrick B, Lead Technician

Lance N., Apprentice Electrician

Justin S, Lead Technician

Jason T, Lead Technician

Ernest Render, Journeyman Electrician

On any given day you will never see Ernest with a smile. From his infectious laugh to his ability to mold aspiring electricians Ernest has left many lasting impressions on our future generation. His patience and teaching ability are second to none.

Gary S., Lead Technician – Journeyman Electrician

We are proud to have Gary as part of our Jacksonville Electrician Team.

Daniel L, Apprentice

We are proud to have Daniel as part of our Jacksonville Electrician Team.

Evelin M, Administrative Assistant

We are proud to have Evelin as our Administrative Assistant for Empire Electric.

Michele S, Accounting

Michele has been working in the electrical trade for the last 20 years, with that it has brought her a vast range of experience in the electrical industry. In her early years she worked in the warehouse which allowed her to learn the parts and basics behind electrical work. When she transferred into the office it allowed her to be able to talk to the customers and answers their questions over the phone. She has handled everything from dispatching, accounting and management of employees. Providing top notch customer service to our customers is her number one goal. It makes her feel good to be able to be the first point of contact to our customers to help assist them over the phone then to schedule for the technicians to resolve their electrical needs. The end result is making sure our customers are completely satisfied from start to finish. On her days off, she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters doing outdoor activities such as kayaking, camping and water sports. In her spare time she enjoys scrapbooking and reading. We are pleased to have Michele as part of our Jacksonville Electrician Team

Kitty JonJock, Permit Coordinator

With permitting being an integral part of construction combined with the sheer volume of permits Empire Electric Inc. pulls with the different locale’s we are pleased to have someone with the experience and expertise dedicated to handling our very important and critical permitting indenture. From coordination to scheduling Kitty can handle the most critical or sensitive permitting with ease. Kitty brings over 20 years of combined Electrical and Mechanical experience in the construction / contracting field.

Jon Brockel, Project Manager

Dave Thompson, Service Manager

Dave is a native of Jacksonville. With over 25 years of electrical experience Dave performs the daily duty of smooth running fleet of technicians. From his combined electrical experience with impeccable customer service skills and techno0logy, Dave is able to maintain a smooth running service department and handle customers hand in hand.

Jim Sullivan, Owner – Vice President

Jim Sullivan is a native of Jacksonville, Florida, he attended Englewood High School and went right into the Electrical trade out of high school in 1983. He worked in the field as an electrician’s helper and then a Lead man then obtained his electrical license in the trade in 1990. Ove the course of 32 years in the trade he has gained a vast range of electrical knowledge by working on many different projects. He transferred into the office in 1999 to become a project manager, where he took off sets of plans for commercial and military jobs. He followed each job thru that he was awarded where he managed crews and over saw the job sites. He is eager and excited to be on a new adventure with his own company to be able to build on his customer basis and continue to provide outstanding customer service. During his off time, Jim enjoys spending time with his two sons boating and camping. He received his private pilot’s license in 2001 and enjoys flying in his spare time as well. We are proud to have Jim as part of our Jacksonville Electrician Team.

Rich Speaker, Owner – President

Rich is President of Empire Electric Inc. Rich was born and raised in Buffalo, New York in where he graduated Lafayette High School and joined the United States Navy. While in the Navy, Rich began his path in the electrical trade as a Electricians Mate stationed in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and subsequently upon the Conventional Aircraft Carrier, John F. Kennedy CV67, ultimately ending in Jacksonville, FL with an Honorable Discharge.Still young and eager to fulfill his thirst for knowledge in the electrical trade, R applied as an Electricians Helper. While progressing through the ranks as Electrician Helper, Rich decided it was time to utilize his G.I. Bill that was given for his military service. Wanting to integrate Electrical and Computer networking, Rich decided to attend night school to obtain his Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer MCSE certification in 2006. After the birth of his two children, Rich decided it was time to once again further his education and knowledge of the electrical trade. In December 2010 Rich obtained his Florida State Certified Master Electrician License EC13004667 and subsequently being accepted in to the Jacksonville Master Electricians Association J.M.E.A.