Energy Saving Tips At Home

Are you sick of paying energy retailers hundreds of dollars? Well, you need to cut your energy use and consume less energy!

A small step today can help reduce your energy bill and save our planet!

After all, high energy consumption has wreaked havoc on the environment. On an individual level, it often drives a hole in your pocket. And heating and cooling devices, outdoor lights and pool pumps are some of the major contributors to electricity consumption in a household. Even then, it has almost become impossible to do without them.

And if you are cautious, you might avoid paying hefty energy bills every month. But it does not have to be that way. Today, we will take you through some tips you can implement to save energy at home (and save money)!

Let’s take a look at how you can save energy at home and improve energy efficiency!

Home Energy Saving Tips

1. Bring Changes To Your Everyday Behaviour

Before you make big changes in the household to save energy, focus on how changing daily habits can significantly help. Indeed, investing in energy-efficient products can significantly bring down your power costs.

But before you do all that, start simply by turning off an appliance (a ceiling fan, for instance) when not in use. You can also reduce your electricity consumption by doing certain things manually instead of using an appliance.

For instance, wash clothes in cold water or consider putting them on the clothesline for hang-drying instead of using a dryer to dry clothes. And open windows to let natural light in during the daylight hours instead of switching on the lights unnecessarily.

We know you love warm air in the winter, but even small changes like turning down the heating a little during or reducing the use of an air conditioner during summer can reduce your energy bills. After all, thermostats, hot water systems and air conditioner models can significantly increase your energy bill. Installing fans is a great way to reduce cooling costs and the energy needed to keep the heat down.

As a new homeowner, you might not know which appliances usually drive up energy costs. In such cases, you can check the back of the appliance or the instruction manual for its wattage and energy consumption range. By adjusting its usage, you can achieve optimal energy efficiency. For example, getting rid of a second fridge can make a big difference.

If you are cautious and make a few lifestyle changes focused on reducing energy usage, you will surely be able to reduce energy costs.

2. Make Use Of Smart Power Strips

You would be surprised to know that one of the major sources of consumption in every household is the “ phantom load.”

Simply put, this electricity is consumed by appliances when they are turned off or placed in standby mode. Almost 10% of the power consumption in every household is because of this. So, the standby power consumption determines how much energy you spend monthly on energy use.

Consider installing smart power strips to avoid this problem and reduce your energy bill. This will limit energy use and reduce your electricity consumption by reducing the phantom load. So when you turn off a device, it is turned off entirely without using any energy.

One of the best things about using smart power strips is that they can turn off automatically at a pre-assigned time. You will waste no energy, and you can save money.

3. Use The Right Light Bulbs

You might have seen traditional incandescent lights when visiting grandparents. And they may help you achieve a vintage aesthetic but are not energy-efficient.

Our recommendation is to replace incandescent lights with energy-efficient options like LEDs. These variants use almost 25-80% less energy than the former. Plus, they are designed to last much longer.

You can even consider choosing bulbs that use solar panels for solar power as their energy source. These light fixtures can further help you reduce your energy bills, saving energy.

4. Opt For Appliances That Are Energy Efficient

Life today is almost impossible without installing a few electrical appliances (if not many) at home. Much energy consumption is directly related to appliances like hot and cold water systems, air conditioning, heating and cooling systems, etc.

You must pay close attention to two things to ensure that the electricity costs do not burn a hole in your pockets. Firstly, take a look at the price of an appliance. And secondly, remember to take its operating costs into account. If the energy ratings are high, rest assured that you will be able to save a lot on the annual operating costs even when the purchasing price of the products is high.

When purchasing energy-saving appliances, always look out for the star labels. The higher the number of stars, the more energy-efficient they will be.

5. Cut Down On Your Water Heating Costs

Without a doubt, water heaters are a major source of household electricity consumption. And only some have a solar hot water system installed. So, how do you save electricity and reduce your carbon footprint then?

To bring down the electricity bills, you can switch on the water heater less frequently, keep turning the hot water thermostat down occasionally, or insulate the pipes. You can also take shorter showers to avoid wasting energy.

You can consider replacing the older hot water system model with a new one to reduce the running costs. When purchasing a new model, you should check if the model you choose is energy-efficient and meets your specific requirements.

For instance, shifting to using tankless water heaters is an excellent bet for small families. This will ensure that the machine heats only the water needed and that no electricity is wasted.

However, these devices are not ideal for large families as they cannot manage the simultaneous need for high loads of water. In this case, you can opt for a larger tank where the water will heat up in one go. Then you can switch off the heater and use the water from the tank. In this way, you can limit your water usage.

Another point to note is that the newer models you find on the market help save energy more than their older counterparts. Always make sure that you check their power wattage before you make the purchase.

Energy Efficiency Is Easy (If You Know How)

All we have suggested so far will go in vain if you have poorly insulated or open windows in the house that let cold air in. They make the heaters work extra hard to ensure the temperature is comfortable within the home but increase your power bills.

Also, it goes without saying you consider investing in more energy-saving appliances. And get them serviced occasionally to prevent any significant damages. It would be best to consider things like your fridge temperature and pool pump. And make sure to shop around to choose the best energy retailer.

If you have done it all, and the problem persists, you can contact our Bright Force Electrical professionals. We have the best team to identify what is causing your electricity bill to soar. Our Sydney electricians will check your power points and conduct regular maintenance to ensure your appliances work efficiently. We hope you enjoyed our blog on ways to save energy!

Until next time!