Energy Management: Where Does Your Money Flow?

Energy management is vital to money management. If you want to get rid of debt, save money to buy real estate or want money to grow your business, then you need to understand where your money flows and how to make changes in your energy use. One effective way to manage your energy is to cut down and save on usage on many of the electronics and appliances that use the most energy in your apartment.

Heating Elements

Any appliance with a heating element will raise your electric bill. You need to find ways to limit your use of them, or not use them at all. Here’s a short list of typical appliances with a heating element, along with suggestions for how to cut down on usage:

• Dryer: Use an outdoor or indoor clothes lines, or both
• Washer: Wash using cold water when possible
• Central Heating: Switch to portable heaters that you can wheel from room to room if possible
• Coffee pot: Make it on the stove during other meal preparations

The investment you make to replace items will pay dividends in the long term.

Cooling Your Apartment

Heating is not only a major area that needs a lot of energy management. Cooling your apartment also costs a lot of money. If you’re using an air conditioner as the primary method of cooling your apartment, then you need to know how to cut down your expenses. To begin with, you should consider switching from central air to portable or window air conditioner units. Your landlord may not allow you to install a window air conditioner due to zoning laws, but they may be fine with you installing a dual-hose portable air conditioner.

You can also buy ones without hoses, referred to as a ventless portable air conditioner, but they won’t work as effectively. Ceiling fans are also effective for air circulation and limited cooling needs. It won’t be an effective replacement for an air conditioner if you live in apartment that gets too hot, but it can help to cool your apartment faster when you turn it on with your air conditioner. You can also use a ceiling fan at night when temperatures are lower. If ceiling fans aren’t installed in your apartment, then buy a fan. Make sure it can turn and blow air in several directions.

Unplug Devices

You can still “use” energy on appliances that you shut off. Some appliances and electronics draw power even when you turn them off. The only energy management strategy for those devices is to unplug them from the wall. You could also plug them into power strips. Some notorious examples are:

• Computers
• Printers
• Televisions
• DVD players
• Washing machines
• Battery chargers
• Cordless telephones

Pick a time every night, perhaps just before bedtime, to make the rounds and unplug everything. Another option would be to unplug the appliance or device immediately after use.

Take a look at all the appliances and electronics in your apartment and make a note of the ones that are the root of your high electric bills. Sell, replace or limit your use of them and you’ll become better at energy management.