What is the main reason so many of these small appliances use so much power? It is because they are almost always plugged into electrical outlets, even when they are not in use. They draw energy constantly, even when the devices they power have been disconnected.  Check out our list of the most energy inefficient small appliances. How many do you have in your home?

Plasma TVs:
You know you want one. Plasma televisions are on most of our home entertainment wish lists, but these hot items are quite literally hot. They use a lot of energy and throw off a significant amount of heat, too. The average 42-inch plasma screen uses as much as 325 watts of electricity; that old-fashioned CRT TV you have lying around uses just 120 watts. LCD TVs are a good compromise, using about 200 watts of electricity.

Digital Photo Frames:
Once a novelty item, digital picture frames are quickly becoming more commonplace as they become more affordable. However, according to a recent estimate from the Electric Power Research Institute, if every home in the US had one of these frames operating 24 hours a day it would take five entire power plants to keep them all running.

Video Game Consoles:
Video games have come a long way since Pac Man and Pong. Today’s games require high-level digital processors to control all of those stunning graphics, and those processors require tons of energy. Compounding the problem is that energy-efficiency standards have yet to catch up to video game consoles like Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that game consoles consume around 16 billion-kilowatt hours of electricity each year. This is roughly the same amount of yearly energy usage as the entire city of San Diego.

Set-Top Boxes:
Cable and digital converter boxes for your television may seem like pretty innocuous devices. While they only draw about 30 watts of energy, these boxes are always on—even when the TV is turned off. A single box can use as much as 265 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a year. This is equal to the annual energy consumption of a 28-inch tube television.

Battery Chargers:
It seems that everything that rings, beeps or clicks now comes with its very own battery charger. Although these small devices do not use much energy—only about 10 watts—most of us simply plug them into the wall and leave them there, connecting them to the phone, camera or portable DVD player only when we need a charge. Even when there is nothing attached to them, battery chargers continuously draw power if they are plugged in. Consider the fact that most American homes have at least half a dozen chargers, and our total energy consumption adds up to the output of several large power plants.

When it comes to buying a new heater or air conditioner, far too many consumers make the wrong choice for the wrong reasons. They don’t base their decision on the right criteria. They get pressured into making a certain purchase. Or they just settle for anything. And in the end, they usually pay for it.

Purchasing your new heater or air conditioner, requires critical decision-making skills. Whatever you do, do not rush into the purchase decision, make assumptions or leave it up to chance. Do your homework in advance. Use good judgment. Listen to your head and not your heart. And be sure to avoid these costly mistakes:

• Mistake #1: Buying The Wrong Size Equipment
  According to the Department of Energy, a large percentage of people who replace their heating and air conditioning systems end up with the wrong size equipment. The results are scary: high utility bills, buildup of unhealthy mold in the ductwork, damaged equipment and uncomfortable living conditions. Make sure you get an accurate load calculation from your contractor that is determined by your home’s physical characteristics and takes into account your family’s personal needs. This, along with a detailed system analysis, will correctly verify the proper size equipment needed for your home.
• Mistake #2: Using Untrustworthy and Unqualified Contractors
  A recent survey revealed that 45% of homeowners feel uncomfortable to downright creepy when a contractor is in their home. Make sure the company you are dealing with is a member in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and has the proper insurance to protect you if someone gets hurt on your property or damages occur. Remember — a lot of companies hire high school co-op students to work with mechanics and the mechanics don’t specialize in any particular type of equipment. Be sure that your contractor is qualified to install the system you select and insist on a list of several customers who have had the same system installed so you can verify any questions you have about the quality of workmanship.
• Mistake #3: Choosing the Lowest Price
  A sure sign of trouble is thinking you can get the same thing for less. Like everything in life, you can’t get something for nothing. Basically, every contractor installs the same heating and air conditioning equipment. In many cases, the only difference is the name on the outside of the box. Many laws regulate how and why systems are installed so when you make you buying decision based on price, the shortcut you are going to get is with the quality of the installation. If you’re leaning toward the contractor with the lowest price, ask yourself these questions first: What’s being left out? What shortcuts are being taken? Why is the price different? Heating and air conditioning equipment is designed to last 12-15 years. In the past several years, we have replaced many pieces of equipment less than 10 years old because of improper sizing, poor workmanship and faulty installation.
• Mistake #4: Not Getting a Written Guarantee
  Make sure the company you choose will stand behind the products and services they sell with a no-hassle, no-questions asked warranty that will protect you and your family from any unforeseen breakdowns. Be sure the guarantee is in writing and includes a performance guarantee, investment guarantee and a real 100% satisfaction guarantee.

What’s The Best Way to Avoid These Mistakes?
Call Wahl Heating and Cooling, inc. to replace your heating and air conditioning system! You’ll get the right size equipment, the best value and a written guarantee from the heating and air conditioning company that homeowners and businesses in Southwestern Pennsylvania have known and trusted since 1980 for superior equipment installation and replacement.