Using the dishwasher to do the dishes might not seem like such a harmful activity. You turn it on and let that beast use steaming hot water and detergent to wipe your plates clean. But don’t forget that there are thousands of people exactly like you, doing the same thing at the same time. It all adds up to be an unbearable burden on the power companies who have decided that they have had enough with all this high energy consumption during specific times of the day/evening.
But believe it or not, there’s an arrangement that makes it possible for all sides to win. You’ll get to use your dishwasher, the power companies won’t have to lose anything, and on top of that, you’ll even get to make money. How’s that possible?
Well, imagine a company that seeks to save the day by offering people like you money to cut back on their energy use. OhmConnect is just that company! When you join their energy-saving program, they’ll send you a text message informing you of what time of the day/evening energy use in your area is at its maximum. What you have to do to get paid is minimize your energy consumption for one hour. The options are open for you. You can switch off the lights, make sure the air conditioning or heating system is properly shut down, and check to see that all appliances (large or small) have been promptly switched off. OhmConnect is willing to pay more as long as you consume less. That’s the key rule that you need to follow.
How Do I Save Energy?
There are a couple of easy steps that you can take to save energy. It’ll surprise you to see how much of a difference these measures can make on your electric bill.
- Check Window Seals: Sometimes the seals that you have on the windows don’t work in keeping the cold air out, which will waste a lot of the energy in your heating system. Have them replaced with better insulation.
- Hang Your Laundry Out to Dry: Dryers are consuming way too much electricity. Time to do things the old-fashioned way and hang them up!
- Replace Regular Lightbulbs: Some people may think that the only thing you can do to cut down on your electricity is by switching the lights off. All you really need to do is swap your regular lightbulbs for LED ones.
- Get Your Fridge Cleaned: We’re not just talking moldy cheese and rotting apples. We’re talking about dirty coils that force your fridge to work harder. Don’t underestimate the advantage of keeping those coils clean. It is also important to adjust the temperature of your fridge to 38 degrees and your freezer 0-5 degrees. This way your food will be kept fresh without having the fridge work too hard.
Getting Ready to Start
Ready to join a group of committed money-making energy savers? It’s definitely a step you won’t regret taking. First, you will need to create an online account on OhmConnect, which will require that you will complete a simple form.
Once your OhmConnect account is established, you will then have to link it up to one of California’s power companies, PG&E, Southern California Edison, or SDG&E. Before doing so, you will need to make sure that you have an online account with one of these companies as well.
You’re now ready to start earning. You will receive a text message from OhmConnect that will tell you when energy consumption is at its highest in your area. Then for at least one hour, shut off as many electric devices as you possibly can. It’s a guaranteed win!