Energy Myths – Debunked

You’ve probably heard a lot of tips about saving energy… the best ways to save, easy tricks, and simple yet creative ideas that seem too good to be true. Unfortunately, some of these are in fact just that, too good to be true.

In this article, we’ll debunk some of the biggest energy savings myths and offer some real alternatives instead.

Myth: Closing vents in unused rooms will help save on energy.

The Hoax

While this seems to make a good deal of sense at first, this “trick” actually won’t save any money in your home. The theory behind this one is that if the vent is closed, then the air isn’t being wasted, easy right? It’s true that the air isn’t being pumped into the room, but your furnace or central air conditioning system is still working to push the heated or cooled air through the duct system. This ultimately results in all the air being forced towards other open vents in the home, and furthermore, will wear the system out more quickly because of the heightened pressure.

The Fix

Instead of closing a vent in one room, invest in a programmable thermostat which will allow you much greater control over your home’s temperature, even room-by-room, resulting in a more comfortable climate and larger energy savings. There are a range of programmable thermostats available, so do some research to find out which one is right for you.

Myth: My appliances are off – they must not be using energy.

The Hoax

Yet another energy myth… while there are certain appliances that might use little to no energy while plugged in, say a toaster, the vast majority of today’s electronics can consume almost as much energy while in the "off" position as they do while they are on, due to standby settings that are draining electricity even while the products aren’t in use.

The Fix

The best way to not only ensure you are saving energy while your electronics aren’t in use, but to also protect them, is to buy an advanced power strip. These gadgets are affordable and are even offered at discounted prices through our online store. They provide an easy method of protecting your electronics against power surges, which can fry the circuits in many of your most expensive appliances. Purchasing an advanced power strip can save up to $300 in energy costs over five years. Energy myth debunked!

Myth: A light bulb is just a light bulb – I’m okay as long as I turn them off.

The Hoax

While it is true that turning lights off when not in use will save money, and you should get in the habit of doing so, the savings don’t stop there.

The Fix

There are many different ENERGY STAR^® certified LED and CFL bulbs on the market that are becoming increasingly affordable. These bulbs provide the warmth that you want from a light in your home without the noise and flickering that comes from older fluorescent bulbs. ENERGY STAR certified bulbs come in a number of shapes and sizes and are made to fit every home’s needs. Each incandescent bulb that you replace with an LED bulb will save you up to $80 in electricity costs over its lifetime – that’s not a bad deal… and it’s not another energy myth!

You can’t believe everything you hear, but you can believe all of the great energy saving ideas from Mass Save. Read our other blog articles to learn more about how you can start saving on energy costs today!