No one likes to have utility bills that are outrageously high. But it’s one thing to know why your bill is so high and another to be in the dark. If you’re unsure why your electric bill is skyrocketing even after a meter reading or if your bills are still running high even after being conscious about your energy use, here are three things that could be hiking up your usage.
You’re working more from home
You might not have noticed a major shift in your electric bill since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic if you’re among the 69% of entrepreneurs starting their business from home. After all, the average person already spends 90% of their time indoors. But if you’re not used to clocking in from 8-5 in your home office every day, the shift in your electric bill might come as a surprise to you.
To help combat the change, consider moving your desk up against a window to use the sunlight as much as you can throughout the day. This will help you depend on your lamps and overhead lights less, at least until winter sends the sun down by 5 PM.
Your home is suffering from stack effect
Approximately 40% of heat loss in a house is caused by the heat escaping through the attic. This is a problem known as the stack effect. Stack effect, short for “smokestack effect,” occurs when there’s a difference in the air density indoors versus outdoors.
When you have gaps in your insulation, it causes the indoor air to escape outside in an effort to achieve a balance between the difference in air density. As a result, you end up paying more for heating and cooling. To help fight back against the stack effect, consider upgrading your attic’s insulation or using spray insulation to fill up any cracks where air could be escaping. If there are leaks in your roof, this could also contribute to the indoor air escaping, so it is recommended to have these leaks fixed by professional roofers. If you notice other issues with the roof, then you should make sure to repair these immediately with the help of expert roofers. You should also consider investing in home shade motorization to program your blinds to open and close at specific times of day to maximize lighting efficiency.
You’re charging electronics that don’t need it
Take a look around your living room and home office. Chances are there are electronics plugged into the wall when they don’t need to be charged. It’s important to note that just because your laptop, tablet, and phone say they’re fully charged doesn’t mean they’re not still sucking energy from your home. In fact, you might actually be paying more money on your electric bill because your tech is unnecessarily pulling energy from the house.
To help keep your tech from becoming electrical vampires, make sure to regularly unplug your devices when they’re not in use. Only charge your electronics when they actually need it and don’t keep electronics plugged in when they’re fully charged.
