It’s logical that household energy use will go up while we’re all spending more time at home. But how much more? Ohmconnect thinks it may be as much as $1.2B in increased utility bills for California residents. Ouch!

Happily, there’s lots of low- and no-cost things we can do to reduce our home energy use during the pandemic. Here are some of our favorites.

Go vampire hunting

Believe it or not we’ve encountered many homes where the vampires — devices using lots of electricity when not in use — account for more than half their monthly energy use. Our research project with the NRDC in 2015 showed the average for California homes is closer to 30%, but that still represents a huge opportunity for savings.

Send the kids vampire hunting armed with the NRDC’s Self-Diagnosis Guide (here), a Killawatt meter (here), or the free Dr Power app (here). Or just have them find any devices that are always warm to the touch. Once identified, there are simple ways to kill a vampire: (1) unplug it; (2) put it on a power strip that you can switch off when not needed; or (3) put it on a timer. You can even reward the kids for “slayed watts” because every 10 watts removed will save you over a buck a month.

Any hot light bulbs?

Remember those old incandescent light bulbs with filaments? They really should be called heaters because 90% of the electricity they use turns into heat, not light. That makes your house hot and increases your utility bill. Track them down and replace them with LEDs, which are now the right color, reliable, and cheap.

When replacing a bulb, when possible bring the old one with you to Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, or Walmart which all have good prices and selections. Or stay safely at home and order them from Amazon, 1000 Bulbs or SuperBrightLEDs.

Did you bring the office home?

Whether for work or entertainment, you’re probably using more computers, entertainment devices, or other office equipment. Make sure they are configured in energy-saving mode or put them on power strips so they can be easily shut down when unused.

Ahhhh… The sweet smell of line-dried clothing

Got a little extra time on your hands? Save your clothes drier and reduce your bills by line-drying clothes whenever possible. But watch out, it can be habit forming.

Heating and cooling

Probably not the best time for major updates like new windows, adding insulation or sealing your ducts, but simple things can make a big difference. Keep doors and windows closed when the heater (or AC) is on. If specific rooms of the home need help, consider an efficient portable heat pump (like this one). And after you’ve finished organizing your sock drawer make sure your thermostat is set properly.

All that handwashing!

Using lots of hot water? Use cold water in your clothes washer: most newer washers are designed for cold water. Turn down your water heater temperature setting a bit. If you have a hot water recirculation pump, turn it off and see if anyone notices. And if your hot water heater is more than 10 years old consider laying the groundwork to replace it with a very efficient Heat Pump Water Heater; some wiring may be needed, but electricians are considered “essential services”. We installed one in our home last summer and it uses one quarter the energy of the one it replaced. Wow.

On the best rate plan? 

Log into your utility’s web site or just give them a call. Rate plan options are increasing and most utilities have a rate comparison tool that will help you figure out if you’re on the cheapest plan. Some (like this one from PG&E) even use smart meter data to tell you exactly how much you would save given your recent consumption patterns.

Finally, for those in PG&E’s Northern California territory, it’s a perfect time to sign up for the free online HomeIntel program to get more customized recommendations.

Related Posts

• https://rmi.org/keeping-your-home-healthy-during-the-covid-19-crisis/
• https://www.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/newsdetails/index.page?title=20200318_for_customers_adjusting_to_covid-19_restrictions_pge_offers_ways_to_reduce_energy_use_and_bills
• https://www.sce.com/safety/coronavirus
• https://blog.sense.com/6-ways-to-cut-your-homes-energy-costs-right-now/
• https://www.electric.coop/tips-for-managing-energy-use-during-covid-19/
• https://www.efficiencyfirstca.org/news/2020/03/30/6-tips-for-working-from-home/
• https://energycentral.com/c/pip/kua-offers-tips-reduce-household-energy-use-during-covid-19-pandemic