Many of us are trying to save energy, whether for financial or environmental reasons, or both.
Yet, many myths about saving energy around the home simply don't work.
Here are 15 changes that won't actually lower your utilities and keep more money in your wallet.
Get instant access to hundreds of discounts
Over 50? Join AARP today— because if you’re not a member you could be missing out on huge perks like discounts on travel, dining, and even prescriptions.
Get 25% off membership — just $15 for your first year with auto-renewal — and a free gift if you join today.
Making the HVAC work faster saves energy
/images/2023/09/20/touch-screen-thermostat-on-wall.jpeg)
Some people try to save energy by turning their thermostat way up or down to reach their desired temperature as quickly as possible. Then, they turn off the unit to let it "coast" for a while.
But this doesn't work and can burn out your system faster than letting the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system do its thing more reasonably.
Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.
Using space heaters saves energy
/images/2023/09/20/electric-fan-heater-on-floor.jpeg)
People will often try to save energy by keeping a home's main heat source down and plugging in space heaters. They assume that electric space heaters must save more energy than actually using heat throughout the entire house.
But that's not the case. Instead, those little space heaters suck up a lot of energy, pushing your bill higher.
Ceiling fans significantly lower the temperature
/images/2023/09/20/ceiling-fan-rotating-at-high-speed.jpeg)
Similar to space heaters, some people may believe that using a ceiling fan is a more efficient way to cool a home than using the AC.
While a ceiling fan may feel nice, it doesn't actually cool the air. In fact, it can actually radiate heat from its motor.
Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt
National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.1 <p>Clients who are able to stay with the program and get all their debt settled realize approximate savings of 46% before fees, or 25% including our fees, over 12 to 48 months. All claims are based on enrolled debts. Not all debts are eligible for enrollment. Not all clients complete our program for various reasons, including their ability to save sufficient funds. Estimates based on prior results, which will vary based on specific circumstances. We do not guarantee that your debts will be lowered by a specific amount or percentage or that you will be debt-free within a specific period of time. We do not assume consumer debt, make monthly payments to creditors or provide tax, bankruptcy, accounting or legal advice or credit repair services. Not available in all states. Please contact a tax professional to discuss tax consequences of settlement. Please consult with a bankruptcy attorney for more information on bankruptcy. Depending on your state, we may be available to recommend a local tax professional and/or bankruptcy attorney. Read and understand all program materials prior to enrollment, including potential adverse impact on credit rating.</p>
Sign up for a free debt assessment here.
Electricity costs less than other energy
/images/2023/09/20/pennies-and-bulb-over-electric-bill.jpeg)
This is the myth that perpetuates the space heater and ceiling fan myths since electricity is generally more expensive than natural gas or propane.
If you're looking to cut your utility bill, you're better off using heating systems powered by the latter resources rather than relying on electricity.
New windows pay for themselves in energy efficiency
/images/2023/09/20/male-worker-installing-pvc-window.jpeg)
New windows certainly can save energy, but they can also be very expensive to purchase and install. In fact, it's difficult to recoup the cost in energy savings.
Trending Stories
Turning off the AC when you're not home saves energy
/images/2023/09/20/woman-adjusting-smart-thermostat-at-home.jpeg)
If you let your house heat up during the day, your AC unit will actually work harder when you return home.
This is a situation where compromise works better. Instead of completely turning off the HVAC unit when you leave, leave it on at a higher setting.
Switching a light on and off uses more energy than leaving it on
/images/2023/09/20/hand-turning-off-luxurious-lamp.jpeg)
Turning a light on does increase energy usage initially. However, that increase is not enough to justify keeping the light on indefinitely.
The surge lasts less than a second, so you'll probably waste more energy leaving the lights on for long periods when you don't need the illumination.
Appliances cost less to run at night
/images/2023/09/20/open-dishwasher-with-clean-dishes.jpeg)
All things being equal, running devices such as the dishwasher at night will not save you money.
Some utility companies reward customers for using appliances during off-peak hours. Those folks can indeed save money by running appliances at night.
However, the rest of us pay a standard rate for energy usage at any time of day.
Only your HVAC matters when reducing energy usage
/images/2023/09/20/woman-shocked-at-utility-bills.jpeg)
Some people focus solely on their HVAC system when trying to reduce energy usage.
Yes, the HVAC uses a lot of energy. But don't discount the amount of energy that other items — including appliances, computers, and televisions — use daily.
Earn cash back on everyday purchases with a debit card
Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover® Cashback Debit account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2 <p>See website for details.</p>
Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.
Learn more about the Discover Cashback Checking account
Turning appliances off stops energy usage
/images/2023/09/20/woman-loading-dirty-dishes-in-dishwasher.jpeg)
Even when an appliance is turned off, it can still draw some energy. It may look like it's sleeping, but it's still adding to your bill. If you want to stop the energy flow completely, you need to unplug the device.
Closing vents in unused rooms saves energy
/images/2023/09/20/man-adjusting-hvac-vent-using-hand.jpeg)
You can close the vents in unused rooms, but your attempts to save energy this way could backfire.
When you close vents in one room to redirect hot or cold air to another room, it can create buildup in HVAC ducts, which in turn can cause leaks.
Washing dishes by hand uses less energy than a dishwasher
/images/2023/09/20/happy-asian-couple-washing-dishes-together.jpeg)
Today's energy-efficient dishwashers use less water and electricity. Washing dishes by hand actually uses more water.
If you use hot water, the water heater uses more energy. Filling up the dishwasher and pressing a button is actually the energy-efficient way to go.
CFL bulbs are the most energy-efficient choice
/images/2023/09/20/hand-holding-energy-saving-light-bulb.jpeg)
While compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are slightly less expensive than light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, that doesn't make the former the better energy-efficient option.
While CFLs are more efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, LED bulbs are still the gold standard for energy efficiency.
Heavy drapery will keep the cold air out
/images/2023/09/20/woman-removing-curtains-from-windows.jpeg)
It sounds like it could make sense, right? Heavy drapery should act as insulation to keep drafts and cold air out on frigid days.
But not so fast: Opening up that drapery will let sunlight in, which will heat your home. Focus instead on keeping the windows locked to create a tight seal that keeps out cold air.
A screensaver will use less energy
/images/2023/09/20/beautiful-focused-woman-working-on-laptop.jpeg)
A screensaver full of movement and graphics can actually use more energy than letting your computer drift off into sleep mode.
Instead, change your settings to let your computer go to sleep faster and use less energy.
Bottom line
/images/2023/09/20/young-couple-shocked-at-electricity-bills.jpeg)
Energy-saving myths abound, and many of them are well-intentioned and may even sound like they make sense.
But these myths don't really work in an era of more energy-efficient appliances, HVAC systems, and homes.
If you want to start to build your wealth and help the environment, you will have to consider other ways to reduce your energy usage.
Up To 5% Cash Back
Discover it® Cash Back
Current Offer
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Benefits
- $0 annual fee
- Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
Drawbacks
- Requires you to activate the highest-earning category each quarter
- Not accepted as widely overseas as Visa or Mastercard
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
- Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with your digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Subscribe Today
Unlock the Best Banking Deals and Bonuses
From high-yield savings accounts to cashback checking and sign-up bonuses, we bring you the best banking offers to grow your money smarter.