Some ideas are so widely believed they don’t even cause a second thought. Although often true, such common wisdom may be based on outdated or false information. Popular misconceptions about energy use can reduce home comfort and raise utility bills. Listed below are five energy myths that may be costing you.
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If you set the thermostat higher or lower it will heat or cool a room faster.
No matter what the thermostat setting, air conditioners and furnaces work at the same speed. As a matter of fact, more energy may be wasted as the system continues to run to reach the further set point.
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If you leaving the lights on it uses less energy than turning them on and off.
In most instances, the small surge of power needed to turn a light on is much less than the power that is wasted by leaving it on when it’s not needed. In fact, MythBusters busted this myth in one of their episodes years ago.
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If you close off vents you will reduce heating and cooling costs.
Closing vents is a terrible way to save on energy costs. Cooling and heating systems are designed to distribute air evenly; closing vents causes pressure to build up. This pressure build up often results in duct leaks that waste energy.
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If you leaving a ceiling fan on it will cool a room.
Ceiling fans circulate air which makes you feel cooler. This allows you to save energy by raising the temperature on the thermostat. However, they don’t cool the air. Leaving fans on in empty rooms wastes energy.
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Hand washing dishes is cheaper than using a dishwasher.
It’s a widely believed misconception that dishwashers are convenient, but use more water and energy than hand washing. When in fact, washing a typical load of dishes in a dishwasher uses 37% less water. Likewise, using a dishwasher, rather than hand washing, may cut your annual energy costs by more than $40, according to ENERGY STAR.
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