Is it more cost effective to have multiple speakers or one powerful bar emitting the soundtrack from your favorite band at earsplitting decibels?

Let’s look at wattage.

Surround Sound = 300 watts = Sound Bar = 300 watts

Actually, this one is a bit more complicated. We’re assuming quality of sound matters – and what wattage is being put out or amplified doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better – just louder. A big amp can fry your speaker, too!

This or That Thursday: Night Light or Cell Phone Charger?

Many people can’t sleep without a small light on, and others can’t imagine waking up without their cell phone being fully charged. Which costs more?

Let’s look at wattage.

Night Light = 4-7 watts > Cell Phone Charger = 3-4 watts

Wow – call me surprised… The night light draws more juice than the charger does – especially when you take into account that it remains steady all night and the charger draws less after the phone is fully charged.

This or That Thursday: Immersion Blender or Hand Mixer?

Time to whip up a batch of pancakes – but should you use an immersion blender, or a hand mixer to get that batter pour perfect?

Let’s look at wattage.

Immersion Blender = 200 Wattage < Hand Mixer = 250 Wattage  

Your hand mixer uses more wattage, and you usually need to run it a little longer as the bowl tends to spin around as you hold on to it. The immersion blender can be quickly used and requires less power.

You can save money in every room of your house this winter if you follow these simple guidelines below. Going room to room can help you be more aware of where your top energy drainers are.

Kitchen

By living in a first world country we as Americans have become accustomed to climate controlled surroundings. We tend to take a lot for granted and sometimes forget how thankful we should be.  For example, we like our homes to be warm when it’s cold and have our cars automatically start so by the time we enter it will be toasty.

Heating systems are designed to maintain a houses temperature by replacing heat that is lost. Here are five things to look for when heat is being lost.

Do you know your heating source?

Does it cost more to heat water, or move water? The answer could be decided on whether you take hot or cold showers for a month…

Let’s look at the wattage.

Water Pump = 3,000 watts < Water Heater = 4,000 watts

Heating water accounts for a hefty percentage of your power bill each month, just about 18%. A thermal water heater can help, using solar to provide less expensive warm water in temperate climates or during the summer months.

People spend billions of dollars on hair products every year. We strip our hair with shampoo, build it back up with conditioner, then blast it with heat. But which hair appliance uses the most juice?

Let’s look at the wattage.

Blow Dryer = 1,200 watts > Flat Iron = 331 watts

Wow – the blow dryer wattage is a strong argument in favor of natural air dry hair styling.

Conclusion: We suggest you towel briskly, comb out, and air dry before flat ironing your mop into submission.

Are clean clothes or clean dishes more important to you? (The answer may seem obvious to anyone who has ever put on 13 day old jeans or has consumed their cereal out of a plastic bowl.)

Let’s look at the wattage of each appliance.

Washing Machine = 255 Wattage < Dishwasher = 330 Wattage  

Your washing machine uses less energy than your dishwasher, assuming you use each one for 2 hours a day. Your usage may depend on how large of a load you plan to wash  vs. the size of your household.

Do you need a pick me up in the morning? A cup of coffee or toast will give you the caffeine or carbs you need to help kick start your day! But, do you know which option is more energy efficient? Let’s look at the wattage of each appliance.

Toaster = 1100 Wattage > Coffee maker= 1000 Wattage     

Obviously, you’ll use less power per hour to run your coffee maker.  However, it can take 5-10 minutes to brew a pot (depending on your coffee maker), while the toaster only takes a few minutes to brown a couple of pieces of bread.

We’re thrilled to let you know that by choosing us as your supplier, you will receive best in class customer service experiences! We recently won the 2016 “Excellence in Customer Service” award from the Energy Marketing Conferences, which is no coincidence. We’ve been working hard to improve your experience with North American Power over the last few years.

How did we do it?