Easy Tricks To Save Energy At Home

Does one look at electricity bills send you into panic mode?

Electricity bills can get pretty expensive. It’s no wonder so many people try everything to reduce them. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to figure out what and where to cut down. Everyone knows reducing light usage and keeping the heating or cooling in check will help save energy.

But not everyone knows many other things they could do to save electricity. So, they continue paying expensive energy bills monthly without realising that there are plenty of ways to cut down on electricity expenses. This is why we’ve jotted down a few beginner-friendly tips to help you save energy and some money in the process.

Start with these simple changes to see a significant impact on your overall bill.

Energy Saving Tips To Reduce Your Electricity Bill

With the cost of living, particularly electricity prices, front of mind for many, improving your home’s energy efficiency has never been more important. But the good news is, cutting back on your power usage around the house can be as simple as implementing a few small changes.

1. Use Lights Consciously

First, switch off lights when you don’t need them. Unnecessary lights are sure to stack up those bills if you often forget to turn them off. Make it a habit to switch off or remove the plug from any lights as soon as you leave the room.

Use a smaller number of bulbs with higher wattage to make it easier. This way, the lighting doesn’t need a dimmer, but the bill gets smaller. Alternatively, find ways to use natural light as much as possible during the day. Sunlight is aesthetically pleasing, and a breezy room flooding with sunlight does not require artificial light.

Also, remember to switch off the lights every time you leave home. No matter how basic this may sound, these essential tips will save you a lot of dollars. So it’s worth trying out.

2. Switch Off Devices When Not Using Them

We’ve got the easiest trick to conserve energy and save on bills. You may or may not know this, but some appliances use more than 50 % of the regular electricity even when switched off. What does this mean? Electric items have been draining your electricity even when you don’t need them.

Check the house to see all the electric appliances you are not using but are still plugged in. Whether a computer, TV, or gaming device, these items secretly use energy in small amounts without warning you.

Remember that if the machine has a small glowing light on or is set to standby mode, it consumes energy. So, make it a practice to turn off the plug if you aren’t watching TV or using the computer. These changes may seem small, but if you build a habit of switching off, it will save you a lot of electricity.

3. Gradually Remove Energy Draining Appliances

We know it’s not practical to throw out good appliances that would surely last a few more years. So, that’s not what we are recommending. But there’s one thing you should know. Older devices that are not energy-efficient take up much more electricity, adding to your bills. So what’s the solution, you ask?

We recommend upgrading your appliances and gadgets gradually. The next time you need a new product, make a conscious effort to check if they are energy efficient. That should not be challenging because the product is sure to advertise, and you can conduct your research at the store.

Whenever you replace an energy-draining device with an energy-saving one, you are knocking off more and more money from electricity bills.

4. Switch To Energy-Efficient Lights

Sooner or later, you’ll need to change the lights. So why not select an energy-saving option? LED bulbs are much more energy-efficient than regular ones and can save up to 50-60% of energy compared to incandescent lights.

If the cost of LED lights is causing you to sweat, consider the energy-saving effect in the long haul. Yes, these bulbs cost more, but they also last pretty long and save a lot of energy. So, you save much more than you spent buying new bulbs.

Changes You Can Make In The Kitchen To Save Energy

1. Reduce The Fridge Temperature

Usually, refrigerators are set at the standard temperature after purchase, and after that, you forget about it unless it malfunctions and stops cooling. Many people may not know that raising the temperature slightly is a great way to reduce the consumption of energy.

We don’t think you should raise the temperature till the fridge isn’t cool anymore. Instead, raise it to the recommended level, which will help you get the most out of cooling and save energy.

The standard temperature for the fresh food section is 3 degrees Celsius. So you can manually raise the temperature to 3 degrees without compromising the cooling.

2. Optimise Your Dishwasher Use

If you calculate, dishwashing saves much more water than handwashing does. It may seem counterintuitive to use a device to save money when you can use your hands to complete the task. But the truth is, handwashing is wasteful and taking into account the running tap, we waste more water handwashing than using the dishwasher.

Also, switch to using the dishwasher at night instead of during peak hours of the day. This will reduce the electricity load and save you a lot of money. But don’t forget to pack the dishwasher as much as possible before washing. The goal here is to use the machine as infrequently as possible.

3. Defrost The Freezer

Have you heard of this trick before? It’s a practice some people follow that reduces the overall energy consumption of the freezer box. They defrost the freezer every month to remove the excess ice from the pack.

Here is why this trick works. When too much ice is in the freezer, the system overworks to compensate for the extra cooling required. Keeping the extra ice from melting is what drains extra energy. That’s why it’s an excellent practice to defrost often. Remove the plug, empty the food items first, and leave the freezer door open until the ice melts.

Changes You Can Make In Laundry To Save Energy

1. Avoid Washing Clothes In Warm Water

Some types of clothing turn out best when washed in warm water. But that’s only a minority; most of your clothes will be just as clean and fresh with cold water washes. Avoiding the heat switch frequently is one effortless way to save energy. It doesn’t require much work from your end, only mindful attention to turn off the heater when starting the washing machine.

A simple way to implement this is to segregate the few clothes that need warm water and collect them to wash in one go. This way, you’ll use the machine heater less frequently, thus saving more energy throughout the year.

2. Wash Clothes Together And Less Frequently

Nowadays, we have energy-efficient washing machines and dryers. You might have seen them advertised as excellent products that conserve energy. And while we are not questioning their awesomeness, they still use a lot of electricity. No matter how energy efficient your washing machine is, you can drastically reduce energy bills by reducing the washing frequency.

You may be a cleanliness fanatic who enjoys using the washer several times daily. But that plays a significant role in spiking your electricity bills. So, try clubbing your washing with other household members to reduce the number of times the machine runs. It may be challenging to follow at first, but eliminating the habit of washing two clothes at a time will reap benefits in the long run.

The Best Ways To Save Energy

Conserving energy at home reduces your electricity bills and plays a role in improving the environment. If all households use energy responsibly, the combined efforts can significantly reduce the need for excess electricity production. And that, in turn, cuts down the demand for fossil fuels.

Even if saving money is your primary motivation for reducing energy consumption, the tips listed will help you get started. Which of these tips were you already practising? And which ones are you planning to implement next? Don’t hesitate to contact our electrical team if you need assistance saving energy at home in Melbourne!

Until next time, take care!