First Published: 21st November 2022, written by Olivia Doonan | Last Updated on 6th April 2024 | Reviewed and Edited by Chloe Safilo
Everyone nowadays is looking for ways to save resources while also going green. Our electricity bills are a significant source of expenses for all of us. Making a few minor changes to your home is a great place to start saving money. Here are 11 suggestions to help you be proactive and cost-conscious in terms of electricity, whether you want to preserve the environment or are looking for ways to reduce your electricity costs.
Change to energy-efficient lighting
Energy-efficient CFLs and LEDs make excellent substitutes for incandescent and halogen light bulbs. In addition to using up to 75% less energy and lasting significantly longer than incandescent and halogen bulbs, CFL and LED lighting also cost less because you do not need to replace burned-out light bulbs frequently.
Use smart power boards
Invest in a few smart power boards if you frequently forget to turn off certain appliances before leaving the house or going to bed. They have the same appearance and functionality as standard power boards. Still, because they have built-in Wi-Fi, you can use your smartphone to remotely turn on and off specific outlets, as well as individual appliances or devices.
Put electrical devices and lights on standby when not in use
It should be fairly simple to get into the habit of turning off the lights whenever you leave a room, but it might take more repetition to remember to do the same with some appliances. While putting your laptop or computer to sleep after some inactivity does save some energy, standby power is one of the biggest energy wasters in the home. To avoid paying for standby power, try turning your appliances and other devices off at the wall when not in use.
Switch to solar power
Solar energy has some fairly high upfront costs, but the long-term savings more than offset this. Solar panels are now more widely available, less expensive, and simpler to install than ever before.
Do laundry with more energy awareness
There are several ways to minimize the energy used when washing clothes, including avoiding partial loads and using the dryer as little as possible. Speaking of dryers, you should also search for the difference between a heat pump vs convection dryers to know which one is better for your usage.
Close the doors and the curtains
Keeping the doors closed of rooms you and your family aren’t utilizing will help warm or cool the rooms you are using faster and more effectively, whether you’re using a heater in the winter or an air conditioner in the summer. Regardless of the season, check all windows to ensure they are properly sealed and look at upgrading your front door if it no longer keep the heat in.
Insulate your roof
Along with ensuring that all windows and entrance doors seal tightly, you should look for roof insulation. A significant amount of heat can transfer through your home’s ceiling and roof, which raises the cost of heating and cooling it during the winter and summer. You can cut your electricity bills with a small investment in good roof insulation.
Set the temperature
You’ll find it simpler to set the temperature on your HVAC system or air conditioner and forget about it once you’ve taken steps to ensure that windows and doors are sealed and get the roof of your home insulated.
Do an energy analysis
You can gain more understanding of how, when, and where the most energy is used in your home with the help of an in-home energy assessment. This will enable you to investigate strategies for saving electricity.
Review and modify the appliance settings
We frequently use the default settings that come with them without questioning whether they are the best. Lowering the television brightness and the temperature settings on your refrigerator can help you save money on your energy bill.
Compare prices and change service providers
When was the last time you compared your current electricity provider’s rates to those of other service providers nearby? While comparing mobile and internet plans is very common, we frequently overlook that we can do the same when comparing energy providers using platforms like iSelect electricity NSW. The best time to compare energy provider rates is right now if it has been more than two years since your last comparison.
Final Words
You will be surprised at how much money you can save by making a few simple changes to how you use energy in your home.