Electricity-Dependent Medical Devices
Tuesday | February 18, 2020
United Power can’t guarantee your service won’t be interrupted by scheduled maintenance or an outage. In the event of an outage, we recommend you plan for how to respond.
Read more >
Employees Raise $4,000 for Food Bank of the Rockies
Friday | February 5, 2021
For each dollar donated, the Food Bank of the Rockies was able to provide four meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity and in need of assistance.
Read more >
Title
Energy Efficiency During the Holiday Season
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_HolidayEE.jpg?h=45932144&itok=uzCqbrkJ
Tuesday | December 12, 2023
Card Teaser
It can be difficult to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage during the holidays.
We spend all year thinking about ways to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage, but that becomes more difficult during the holidays. We are often distracted with decorations and preparations, shopping, cooking, and planning. It can be easy to let your guard down, resulting in more excessive energy usage than you might have otherwise expected.
However you choose to celebrate this season, United Power has you covered with the most up-to-date energy efficiency tips and tricks to prevent holiday usage spikes. A little forethought and diligence makes it easy to find savings during this time of year.
Replace Christmas Lights with LEDs
Updating the lighting in your home is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your energy usage and costs. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are a well-known alternative to traditional lights, and are quickly becoming standard lighting. While many people are making the switch to these lights in their homes, they still might reach for the older, less efficient string lights they have always used when decorating for the holidays.
Depending on how festive your holiday display is, the cost of using these lights can really begin to add up — perhaps to the tune of hundreds of dollars! Christmas lights that utilize LEDs are up to 90% more efficient and have a far longer life than traditional incandescent lights.
Beware the Holiday Vampires
United Power has regularly talked about vampire loads, which are quickly becoming large consumers of energy. Vampire loads come from devices that continue to use energy even when they appear to be off, such as TVs, gaming consoles, and charging devices. Holiday lights can also contribute to these loads when they stay plugged in throughout the day while not in use. To avoid the additional energy usage, unplug lights during the day or before bed in the evening, or you can plug them into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use.
Give the Gift of Energy Savings
Electronics have become a more common gift item over the past few years, many of which have the capability of using large quantities of energy. “Green gifting” is the practice of gifting electronics that are certified energy efficient, such as those marked by the ENERGY STAR® label. These devices meet or exceed federal standards for energy efficiency. This allows you to pass on the gift of energy savings to friends and family.
For more energy efficiency tips to help you save on usage throughout the year, visit Managing Your Energy.
Title
Energy Efficiency During the Holiday Season
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_HolidayEE.jpg?h=45932144&itok=uzCqbrkJ
Tuesday | December 15, 2020
Card Teaser
It can be easy to let your guard down and start to see more excessive energy usage during the holiday season than you might expect.
We spend all year thinking about ways to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage, but that becomes more difficult during the holidays. We’re often distracted with decorations and preparations, shopping, cooking and planning. It can be easy to let your guard down and start to see more excessive energy usage than you might have otherwise expected.
However you choose to celebrate this season, United Power has you covered with the most up-to-date energy efficiency tips and tricks to prevent holiday usage spikes. With a little forethought and diligence, it’s easy to find a little savings during this time of year.
Replace Christmas Lights with LEDs
Updating the lighting in your home is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your energy usage and costs. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are a well-known alternative to traditional lights, and are quickly becoming standard lighting. While many people are making the switch to these lights in their homes, they still might reach for the older, less efficient string lights they’ve always used when decorating for the holidays.
Depending on how festive your holiday display is, the cost of using these lights can really begin to add up – perhaps to the tune of hundreds of dollars! Christmas lights that utilize LEDs, however, are up to 90 percent more efficient and have a far longer life than traditional incandescent lights.
Beware the Holiday Vampires
United Power has regularly talked about vampire loads, which are quickly becoming larger consumers of energy. Vampire loads come from devices that continue to use energy even when they appear to be off, such as TVs, gaming consoles or charging devices. Holiday lights can also contribute to these loads when they stay plugged in throughout the day while not in use. To avoid the additional energy usage, unplug lights during the day or before bed in the evening, or you can plug them into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use.
Give the Gift of Energy Savings
Electronics have become a more common gift item over the past few years, many of which have the capability of using large quantities of energy. “Green gifting” is the practice of gifting electronics that are certified energy efficient, such as those marked by the ENERGY STAR label. These devices are at or better than federal standards for energy efficiency. This allows you to pass on the gift of energy savings to friends and family.
For more energy efficiency tips to help you save on usage throughout the year, visit our Energy Tips page.
Title
Energy Efficiency for 2022
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2022_NL_EnergyEfficiency.jpg?h=45932144&itok=12lzkvaR
Thursday | January 6, 2022
Card Teaser
United Power is committed to providing members with the tools and resources they need to take control of their energy use.
United Power is committed to providing members with the tools and resources they need to take control of their energy use. As we enter a new year, it’s now easier to control your energy and become more energy efficient. Here are some ways United Power is empowering its members to take control.
Rates that Work for You
Families spent more time at home over the past two years due to the pandemic transitioning many to working from a home office while schooling from the kitchen or living room. As a result, members are more aware of the ways they use energy. Now is the time to ask your cooperative about your rate and choose one that works for you and your family. United Power’s residential rates provide individuals and families options designed to fit a variety of lifestyles. The flexibility of available rates enables members to review their energy use habits and select a plan that fits their usage patterns. The cooperative’s rates will also remain unchanged as we head into 2022.
For more information on United Power’s rates, go to the cooperative's Rates page, or to have a dedicated energy management specialist review your history and recommend a rate option, call 303-637-1311.
Take Advantage of Free Member Resources
United Power provides several programs and tools to help members understand their usage. The Power Portal is an accessory to the cooperative’s online account portal and provides detailed energy use information. With information displayed in 15-minute intervals throughout the day, members can compare days or months to determine what’s driving energy usage.
In addition to this resource, the cooperative has also launched calculators to help members understand what drives their demand or how charging an electric vehicle can impact their usage. More resources may be coming in the future, and all these tools are available free to United Power members.
‘Smart’ Way to Save on Heating this Winter
Heating and cooling your home accounts for approximately half your annual energy usage, making it the most expensive part of your energy costs. The most efficient way to manage your heating and cooling is installing a smart thermostat, which gives you control even when you’re not home. A simple adjustment to your thermostat could save you as much as 10 percent annually, according to the Department of Energy, which recommends adjusting your temperature a couple degrees when you’re home and a couple more when you’re away. Many smart thermostats can learn your schedule and make these adjustments automatically.
Talk to an Energy Management Specialist
A United Power Energy Management Specialist is available to walk through your energy concerns, analyze your usage and provide you with practical information you can use to control your energy usage. They can walk you through available rates, programs and rebates to ensure you’re maximizing your energy savings.
Ultimately, energy savings comes down to the small things. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when you aren’t in a room. Stagger the use of appliances to avoid a higher demand. Remind everyone in your family to make energy savings a priority. Enter into the new year resolved to be more energy efficient.
Title
Energy Efficiency for a New Year
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2021_NL_EnergyEff.jpg?itok=agIR9TG_
Monday | January 11, 2021
Card Teaser
United Power is committed to providing members with the information and resources they need to take control of their energy usage.
This past year may have challenged many of our members to find ways to use energy more efficiently with many families staying home for both work and school during the pandemic. While the end may be in sight, members should remain vigilant about using energy efficiently to help keep bills low and manageable. United Power is committed to providing members with the information and resources they need to take control of their energy usage throughout the pandemic and after it is over.
Rates that Work for You
With families spending more time at home over the past year, our members may have become increasingly aware of how they use energy. As we roll into the new year, now is a good time to ask your cooperative about your rate and choose one that works for you and your family.
United Power expanded its menu of residential rates over the past couple years so we now offer several rates designed to fit a variety of lifestyles. The flexibility of available rates enables our members to review their energy use habits and select one that most closely fits their usage patterns. For example, if you’ve effectively managed to switch your usage to off-peak hours, perhaps the Peak Time of Day rate, which does not charge for demand during those hours, would be the best option for your household. The cooperative’s Board of Directors also approved a budget this past year that allowed rates to remain unchanged in 2021, which may come as a relief for many United Power members.
For more information on United Power’s residential rates, you can flip to page 6 or go to our Rates page. To have a dedicated Energy Management Specialist review your usage and recommend a rate option, call 303- 637-1300.
Take Advantage of Free Member Resources
United Power has rolled out several programs and tools to help members understand their usage. While our online account portal provides information related to your energy usage, the Power Portal is a member tool that goes deeper into your usage patterns. With the Power Portal, you can access your complete energy consumption portfolio in 15-minute intervals throughout the day to get a clear look at how you use your energy. You can then compare days or months to determine what behaviors are driving your usage and make small or large changes to save you over time and help keep bills manageable. You can find out more about the Power Portal here.
In addition to this resource, the cooperative has also launched calculators to help members understand what drives their demand or how charging an electric vehicle can impact their usage. More resources may be coming in the future, and all these tools are available free to United Power members.
The ‘Smart’ Way to Save on Heating this Winter
Nearly half of our energy use comes from keeping our homes at a comfortable temperature year-round, making it the most expensive part of our electric bills. A simple adjustment to your thermostat may be all it takes to realize quick savings on heating and cooling your home, and it’s unlikely you’ll even notice the slight change in temperature. The Department of Energy estimates a savings of approximately 1 percent per degree adjustment per 8 hours. Adjusting the temperature to a greater degree when you’re away from home may result in savings up to 10 percent annually. The most efficient way to manage your heating and cooling is installing a smart thermostat, which gives you control even when you’re not home. Many smart thermostats can also learn your schedule, analyze weather and adjust automatically.
Have you ever considered your water heater as a potential user of excess energy? Turns out, keeping your water warmer than necessary can also cause small spikes in energy use. Consider turning down the temperature to the warm setting (120°F) to save a little extra.
Watch for Vampire Loads
The way many families use energy makes it difficult to notice the small things that use energy, but those small uses can quickly add up. Over time, small loads may lead to noticeable changes on your electric bills. This is increasingly the case as more members make the switch to chargeable devices and electronics that use energy even when they appear to be off. These are known as “vampire loads.” Gaming systems or TVs set to standby or chargers left plugged in when not in use are examples of small things that can contribute to these loads, which account for approximately 10 percent of the average household’s energy use. Many devices are now available that can control the flow of energy to devices that might cause these loads, such as smart power strips or plugs that can be turned off or on either manually or remotely (some via WiFi and others Bluetooth).
Talk to a United Power Energy Management Specialist
A United Power Energy Management Specialist is available to advise and assist you with your energy concerns. An Energy Management Specialist can walk through your concerns, analyze your usage and provide you with practical information you can use to control your energy usage. They can walk you through available rates, programs and rebates to ensure you’re maximizing your energy savings.
Ultimately, energy savings comes down to the small things. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when you aren’t in a room. Turn off power strips to televisions, gaming systems and other electronics, including chargers, that are not in use. Take shorter showers. Consolidate loads of laundry and dishes to make the best use of hot water. Stagger the use of appliances to avoid a higher demand. Remind everyone in your family to make energy savings a priority. Work with them to start a conversation about saving energy, and you’ll see the savings every month. Enter into the new year resolved to be more energy efficient.
Title
Energy Efficiency Myths
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_EEMyths.jpg?itok=vFFnVeSz
Wednesday | March 4, 2020
Card Teaser
As a cooperative, United Power wants its members to know how they can use their energy more efficiently and save on their bills.
As a cooperative, United Power wants its members to know how they can use their energy more efficiently and save on their bills. There’s a stigma surrounding energy efficiency, though, that it’s either too hard or too expensive to implement in a home. Other members may be unintentionally using more energy from implementing some not-so-energy-efficient “savings” myths. In this article, we dive into a few of these energy efficiency myths to separate fact from fiction and help you make more energy efficient choices.
Electric Space Heaters Save Money
Some people have heard using an electric space heater to heat individual rooms in a house is more cost effective than running a heating system. In fact, electric space heaters are among the most energy inefficient appliances you can use in your home. A central heating system is more effective at heating your home. It’s best to use space heaters as supplemental heat for short periods of time only.
Myth or Truth: Myth
Closing Vents Reduces Consumption
It may seem logical that closing vents in a room would mean saving energy. You’re not heating an extra room in the house, after all. However, closing vents actually puts an added weight on your central heating system. Closed vents only redirect air and throw the system off balance, forcing it to work harder. An energy efficient alternative is investing in a smart thermostat that gives you more control of your system, especially when you’re away.
Myth or Truth: Myth
Try Blasting Your Thermostat
This idea stems from a misconception about how central heating and cooling systems work. Your thermostat is designed to keep a room at a steady temperature. When you crank it up or down, it does not heat or cool more quickly, but it will work continuously until it has reached the temperature setting. From then on, it will turn on or off as required to maintain the temperature setting. Because your home will continue to gain or lose heat through various escape points, this will cause your system to run more frequently and use more energy.
Myth or Truth: Myth
You Can Save with a Microwave
Cooking is not a large part of the average household’s electric bill. However, heavy use of an oven or stove can contribute to an increase in your bill, especially if you cook much during the summer. The heat produced by a stove or oven can cause your A/C to work harder to maintain the temperature in the room. By contrast, a microwave is quicker and uses less energy.
Myth or Truth: Truth
Using a Dishwasher is Better than Hand Washing
Most homes aren’t equipped with an electric water heater, so you might not think of how this could ultimately save you on energy efficiency. However, washing your dishes by hand requires a lot of hot water. Dishwashers actually use your hot water more efficiently, and many of them have energy efficient settings to help conserve gas, electricity and water.
Myth or Truth: Truth
Close Doors to Unused Rooms When Heating
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard energy efficiency points from both sides, but here’s the truth. Your heating system operates through a convection current. As air cycles into a room, hot air rises and sinks as it cools. The cool air is then reheated, beginning the cycle again. Keeping doors to unused rooms closed keeps this cycle of heated air within a contained space, which is more efficient than dispersing it throughout the house.
Myth or Truth: Truth
Becoming energy efficient doesn’t mean spending lots of money on the latest technology or struggling with strict rules. It’s about making small lifestyle changes or remembering to make a few changes around the house. It’s also about sifting the fact from the fiction. As your trusted energy provider, we’re here to provide you with the best resources to take control of your usage, become more energy efficient and save.
If you’re curious about more ways you can save, check out our Energy Tips or contact an Energy Management Specialist at 303-637-1300.
Electricity-Dependent Medical Devices
Tuesday | February 18, 2020
United Power can’t guarantee your service won’t be interrupted by scheduled maintenance or an outage. In the event of an outage, we recommend you plan for how to respond.
Read more >
Employees Raise $4,000 for Food Bank of the Rockies
Friday | February 5, 2021
For each dollar donated, the Food Bank of the Rockies was able to provide four meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity and in need of assistance.
Read more >
Title
Energy Efficiency During the Holiday Season
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_HolidayEE.jpg?h=45932144&itok=uzCqbrkJ
Tuesday | December 12, 2023
Card Teaser
It can be difficult to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage during the holidays.
We spend all year thinking about ways to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage, but that becomes more difficult during the holidays. We are often distracted with decorations and preparations, shopping, cooking, and planning. It can be easy to let your guard down, resulting in more excessive energy usage than you might have otherwise expected.
However you choose to celebrate this season, United Power has you covered with the most up-to-date energy efficiency tips and tricks to prevent holiday usage spikes. A little forethought and diligence makes it easy to find savings during this time of year.
Replace Christmas Lights with LEDs
Updating the lighting in your home is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your energy usage and costs. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are a well-known alternative to traditional lights, and are quickly becoming standard lighting. While many people are making the switch to these lights in their homes, they still might reach for the older, less efficient string lights they have always used when decorating for the holidays.
Depending on how festive your holiday display is, the cost of using these lights can really begin to add up — perhaps to the tune of hundreds of dollars! Christmas lights that utilize LEDs are up to 90% more efficient and have a far longer life than traditional incandescent lights.
Beware the Holiday Vampires
United Power has regularly talked about vampire loads, which are quickly becoming large consumers of energy. Vampire loads come from devices that continue to use energy even when they appear to be off, such as TVs, gaming consoles, and charging devices. Holiday lights can also contribute to these loads when they stay plugged in throughout the day while not in use. To avoid the additional energy usage, unplug lights during the day or before bed in the evening, or you can plug them into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use.
Give the Gift of Energy Savings
Electronics have become a more common gift item over the past few years, many of which have the capability of using large quantities of energy. “Green gifting” is the practice of gifting electronics that are certified energy efficient, such as those marked by the ENERGY STAR® label. These devices meet or exceed federal standards for energy efficiency. This allows you to pass on the gift of energy savings to friends and family.
For more energy efficiency tips to help you save on usage throughout the year, visit Managing Your Energy.
Title
Energy Efficiency During the Holiday Season
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Dec2020_NL_HolidayEE.jpg?h=45932144&itok=uzCqbrkJ
Tuesday | December 15, 2020
Card Teaser
It can be easy to let your guard down and start to see more excessive energy usage during the holiday season than you might expect.
We spend all year thinking about ways to effectively monitor and reduce our energy usage, but that becomes more difficult during the holidays. We’re often distracted with decorations and preparations, shopping, cooking and planning. It can be easy to let your guard down and start to see more excessive energy usage than you might have otherwise expected.
However you choose to celebrate this season, United Power has you covered with the most up-to-date energy efficiency tips and tricks to prevent holiday usage spikes. With a little forethought and diligence, it’s easy to find a little savings during this time of year.
Replace Christmas Lights with LEDs
Updating the lighting in your home is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce your energy usage and costs. Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are a well-known alternative to traditional lights, and are quickly becoming standard lighting. While many people are making the switch to these lights in their homes, they still might reach for the older, less efficient string lights they’ve always used when decorating for the holidays.
Depending on how festive your holiday display is, the cost of using these lights can really begin to add up – perhaps to the tune of hundreds of dollars! Christmas lights that utilize LEDs, however, are up to 90 percent more efficient and have a far longer life than traditional incandescent lights.
Beware the Holiday Vampires
United Power has regularly talked about vampire loads, which are quickly becoming larger consumers of energy. Vampire loads come from devices that continue to use energy even when they appear to be off, such as TVs, gaming consoles or charging devices. Holiday lights can also contribute to these loads when they stay plugged in throughout the day while not in use. To avoid the additional energy usage, unplug lights during the day or before bed in the evening, or you can plug them into a power strip that can be turned off when not in use.
Give the Gift of Energy Savings
Electronics have become a more common gift item over the past few years, many of which have the capability of using large quantities of energy. “Green gifting” is the practice of gifting electronics that are certified energy efficient, such as those marked by the ENERGY STAR label. These devices are at or better than federal standards for energy efficiency. This allows you to pass on the gift of energy savings to friends and family.
For more energy efficiency tips to help you save on usage throughout the year, visit our Energy Tips page.
Title
Energy Efficiency for 2022
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2022_NL_EnergyEfficiency.jpg?h=45932144&itok=12lzkvaR
Thursday | January 6, 2022
Card Teaser
United Power is committed to providing members with the tools and resources they need to take control of their energy use.
United Power is committed to providing members with the tools and resources they need to take control of their energy use. As we enter a new year, it’s now easier to control your energy and become more energy efficient. Here are some ways United Power is empowering its members to take control.
Rates that Work for You
Families spent more time at home over the past two years due to the pandemic transitioning many to working from a home office while schooling from the kitchen or living room. As a result, members are more aware of the ways they use energy. Now is the time to ask your cooperative about your rate and choose one that works for you and your family. United Power’s residential rates provide individuals and families options designed to fit a variety of lifestyles. The flexibility of available rates enables members to review their energy use habits and select a plan that fits their usage patterns. The cooperative’s rates will also remain unchanged as we head into 2022.
For more information on United Power’s rates, go to the cooperative's Rates page, or to have a dedicated energy management specialist review your history and recommend a rate option, call 303-637-1311.
Take Advantage of Free Member Resources
United Power provides several programs and tools to help members understand their usage. The Power Portal is an accessory to the cooperative’s online account portal and provides detailed energy use information. With information displayed in 15-minute intervals throughout the day, members can compare days or months to determine what’s driving energy usage.
In addition to this resource, the cooperative has also launched calculators to help members understand what drives their demand or how charging an electric vehicle can impact their usage. More resources may be coming in the future, and all these tools are available free to United Power members.
‘Smart’ Way to Save on Heating this Winter
Heating and cooling your home accounts for approximately half your annual energy usage, making it the most expensive part of your energy costs. The most efficient way to manage your heating and cooling is installing a smart thermostat, which gives you control even when you’re not home. A simple adjustment to your thermostat could save you as much as 10 percent annually, according to the Department of Energy, which recommends adjusting your temperature a couple degrees when you’re home and a couple more when you’re away. Many smart thermostats can learn your schedule and make these adjustments automatically.
Talk to an Energy Management Specialist
A United Power Energy Management Specialist is available to walk through your energy concerns, analyze your usage and provide you with practical information you can use to control your energy usage. They can walk you through available rates, programs and rebates to ensure you’re maximizing your energy savings.
Ultimately, energy savings comes down to the small things. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when you aren’t in a room. Stagger the use of appliances to avoid a higher demand. Remind everyone in your family to make energy savings a priority. Enter into the new year resolved to be more energy efficient.
Title
Energy Efficiency for a New Year
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Jan2021_NL_EnergyEff.jpg?itok=agIR9TG_
Monday | January 11, 2021
Card Teaser
United Power is committed to providing members with the information and resources they need to take control of their energy usage.
This past year may have challenged many of our members to find ways to use energy more efficiently with many families staying home for both work and school during the pandemic. While the end may be in sight, members should remain vigilant about using energy efficiently to help keep bills low and manageable. United Power is committed to providing members with the information and resources they need to take control of their energy usage throughout the pandemic and after it is over.
Rates that Work for You
With families spending more time at home over the past year, our members may have become increasingly aware of how they use energy. As we roll into the new year, now is a good time to ask your cooperative about your rate and choose one that works for you and your family.
United Power expanded its menu of residential rates over the past couple years so we now offer several rates designed to fit a variety of lifestyles. The flexibility of available rates enables our members to review their energy use habits and select one that most closely fits their usage patterns. For example, if you’ve effectively managed to switch your usage to off-peak hours, perhaps the Peak Time of Day rate, which does not charge for demand during those hours, would be the best option for your household. The cooperative’s Board of Directors also approved a budget this past year that allowed rates to remain unchanged in 2021, which may come as a relief for many United Power members.
For more information on United Power’s residential rates, you can flip to page 6 or go to our Rates page. To have a dedicated Energy Management Specialist review your usage and recommend a rate option, call 303- 637-1300.
Take Advantage of Free Member Resources
United Power has rolled out several programs and tools to help members understand their usage. While our online account portal provides information related to your energy usage, the Power Portal is a member tool that goes deeper into your usage patterns. With the Power Portal, you can access your complete energy consumption portfolio in 15-minute intervals throughout the day to get a clear look at how you use your energy. You can then compare days or months to determine what behaviors are driving your usage and make small or large changes to save you over time and help keep bills manageable. You can find out more about the Power Portal here.
In addition to this resource, the cooperative has also launched calculators to help members understand what drives their demand or how charging an electric vehicle can impact their usage. More resources may be coming in the future, and all these tools are available free to United Power members.
The ‘Smart’ Way to Save on Heating this Winter
Nearly half of our energy use comes from keeping our homes at a comfortable temperature year-round, making it the most expensive part of our electric bills. A simple adjustment to your thermostat may be all it takes to realize quick savings on heating and cooling your home, and it’s unlikely you’ll even notice the slight change in temperature. The Department of Energy estimates a savings of approximately 1 percent per degree adjustment per 8 hours. Adjusting the temperature to a greater degree when you’re away from home may result in savings up to 10 percent annually. The most efficient way to manage your heating and cooling is installing a smart thermostat, which gives you control even when you’re not home. Many smart thermostats can also learn your schedule, analyze weather and adjust automatically.
Have you ever considered your water heater as a potential user of excess energy? Turns out, keeping your water warmer than necessary can also cause small spikes in energy use. Consider turning down the temperature to the warm setting (120°F) to save a little extra.
Watch for Vampire Loads
The way many families use energy makes it difficult to notice the small things that use energy, but those small uses can quickly add up. Over time, small loads may lead to noticeable changes on your electric bills. This is increasingly the case as more members make the switch to chargeable devices and electronics that use energy even when they appear to be off. These are known as “vampire loads.” Gaming systems or TVs set to standby or chargers left plugged in when not in use are examples of small things that can contribute to these loads, which account for approximately 10 percent of the average household’s energy use. Many devices are now available that can control the flow of energy to devices that might cause these loads, such as smart power strips or plugs that can be turned off or on either manually or remotely (some via WiFi and others Bluetooth).
Talk to a United Power Energy Management Specialist
A United Power Energy Management Specialist is available to advise and assist you with your energy concerns. An Energy Management Specialist can walk through your concerns, analyze your usage and provide you with practical information you can use to control your energy usage. They can walk you through available rates, programs and rebates to ensure you’re maximizing your energy savings.
Ultimately, energy savings comes down to the small things. Turn off lights and ceiling fans when you aren’t in a room. Turn off power strips to televisions, gaming systems and other electronics, including chargers, that are not in use. Take shorter showers. Consolidate loads of laundry and dishes to make the best use of hot water. Stagger the use of appliances to avoid a higher demand. Remind everyone in your family to make energy savings a priority. Work with them to start a conversation about saving energy, and you’ll see the savings every month. Enter into the new year resolved to be more energy efficient.
Title
Energy Efficiency Myths
/sites/default/files/styles/news_card_553x430_/public/news/Feb2020_NL_EEMyths.jpg?itok=vFFnVeSz
Wednesday | March 4, 2020
Card Teaser
As a cooperative, United Power wants its members to know how they can use their energy more efficiently and save on their bills.
As a cooperative, United Power wants its members to know how they can use their energy more efficiently and save on their bills. There’s a stigma surrounding energy efficiency, though, that it’s either too hard or too expensive to implement in a home. Other members may be unintentionally using more energy from implementing some not-so-energy-efficient “savings” myths. In this article, we dive into a few of these energy efficiency myths to separate fact from fiction and help you make more energy efficient choices.
Electric Space Heaters Save Money
Some people have heard using an electric space heater to heat individual rooms in a house is more cost effective than running a heating system. In fact, electric space heaters are among the most energy inefficient appliances you can use in your home. A central heating system is more effective at heating your home. It’s best to use space heaters as supplemental heat for short periods of time only.
Myth or Truth: Myth
Closing Vents Reduces Consumption
It may seem logical that closing vents in a room would mean saving energy. You’re not heating an extra room in the house, after all. However, closing vents actually puts an added weight on your central heating system. Closed vents only redirect air and throw the system off balance, forcing it to work harder. An energy efficient alternative is investing in a smart thermostat that gives you more control of your system, especially when you’re away.
Myth or Truth: Myth
Try Blasting Your Thermostat
This idea stems from a misconception about how central heating and cooling systems work. Your thermostat is designed to keep a room at a steady temperature. When you crank it up or down, it does not heat or cool more quickly, but it will work continuously until it has reached the temperature setting. From then on, it will turn on or off as required to maintain the temperature setting. Because your home will continue to gain or lose heat through various escape points, this will cause your system to run more frequently and use more energy.
Myth or Truth: Myth
You Can Save with a Microwave
Cooking is not a large part of the average household’s electric bill. However, heavy use of an oven or stove can contribute to an increase in your bill, especially if you cook much during the summer. The heat produced by a stove or oven can cause your A/C to work harder to maintain the temperature in the room. By contrast, a microwave is quicker and uses less energy.
Myth or Truth: Truth
Using a Dishwasher is Better than Hand Washing
Most homes aren’t equipped with an electric water heater, so you might not think of how this could ultimately save you on energy efficiency. However, washing your dishes by hand requires a lot of hot water. Dishwashers actually use your hot water more efficiently, and many of them have energy efficient settings to help conserve gas, electricity and water.
Myth or Truth: Truth
Close Doors to Unused Rooms When Heating
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard energy efficiency points from both sides, but here’s the truth. Your heating system operates through a convection current. As air cycles into a room, hot air rises and sinks as it cools. The cool air is then reheated, beginning the cycle again. Keeping doors to unused rooms closed keeps this cycle of heated air within a contained space, which is more efficient than dispersing it throughout the house.
Myth or Truth: Truth
Becoming energy efficient doesn’t mean spending lots of money on the latest technology or struggling with strict rules. It’s about making small lifestyle changes or remembering to make a few changes around the house. It’s also about sifting the fact from the fiction. As your trusted energy provider, we’re here to provide you with the best resources to take control of your usage, become more energy efficient and save.
If you’re curious about more ways you can save, check out our Energy Tips or contact an Energy Management Specialist at 303-637-1300.
