Every year, especially during Summer, we get inquires from concerned customers asking why their usage is so high even if they use less air conditioning. Even running the heat during the winter months can spark debate. This week on the Wire blog, we’re breaking it down for you – learn how all your high use appliances can affect your energy bill.

It’s noon on a Saturday afternoon in the middle of July. Your family of 4 is all enjoying the day inside, cooling off under the breezy air conditioner vents. You’re also cooking some food on your electric stove top; the kids have left on every light in each room while they’re playing video games and your spouse is doing a load of laundry. If you add it up, your central air system is not the entire issue during high usage days! Your washer and dryer draw up to 4,000 watts of electricity, second to your air conditioning unit. A hair dryer? With regular use can draw 1,200 watts. That’s more than your refrigerator at 1,000 watts. All these high use appliances can add up each month, especially during Summer when everything is working overtime. While your air conditioning unit does draw the most power, you can bet it will be even more without thinking of the other appliances in your home.

So, what can you do to combat high usage? Those clothes aren’t going to wash themselves, right!? Let’s start by chipping away at your usage. First, your air conditioning and heating unit works most efficiently at cooling/heating up to 20 degrees above or below the outside temperature. That means if its 95 degrees, try not to turn the dial below 75 – and to save more, raising your thermostat at least 3 degrees can save on your energy bill. A room at 78 degrees with a fan on will end up costing less than running the air conditioning longer, just remember fans cool people, not rooms.

Now onto your kitchen, where things like your oven and stove top, dish washer and refrigerator sit. Make sure your refrigerator is set to an efficient temperature; this should be listed inside where you can adjust the dial. Same goes for your freezer.

Have you ever had your oven and stove top running at the same time while cooking a meal? Yeah, us too, and sometimes it is necessary! Consider this, get outside and fire up the grill! You will essentially cut out the use of a stove top if you can use an outdoor grill and the added benefit is you can get a killer sun tan.

Now onto your dishwasher, which is tied in with your washing machine and showers/sinks. Consider turning down your water heater for the entire home. Every 10-degree change can save you nearly 5 percent in monthly energy costs! Who wants to take a hot shower in the middle of Summer anyways?

There are even more ways to cut your usage. Things like LED light bulbs and making sure fans are turned off in rooms that aren’t in use can dramatically swing your energy bills back to being more manageable. What are you doing to save energy during hot/cold days? You can rest assured that even during high usage seasons, 4Change Energy is working to make sure plans are working for you with low rates and easy to track usage reports.