With the rising cost of electricity, efficient energy usage for your home or business has never been more important.
If you’re wondering how to save electricity, you may be surprised to learn that there are plenty of ways to slash your energy bill. Some are easier than others to implement, and some will save more money than others.
Fortunately, we’ve done the legwork and compiled this handy guide on how to save electricity. Read on to learn how to save energy at home.
As accredited qualification holders in Electrical Energy Efficiency, Jarvis Electrical are ‘Green Electricians’. This means that we can advise you on all areas of making your home or business more energy efficient and therefore cost effective.
There are several steps that you can take to ensure that you are using energy in the most efficient and practical way.
1. Consider installing solar panels
Whilst solar panels aren’t the easiest solution to implement, and of course, there are installation costs, they are an excellent investment that will save you plenty of money in the long-term. If you want to know how to save electricity, this is an excellent place to start.
Even a small set up will save you money when billing time comes around since solar energy is free. It is estimated that a 5KW solar panel system can shave approximately $500 off your electricity bill every quarter!
Not to mention, solar panels are an eco-friendly solution, and furthermore, they require little maintenance. Contact solar installers Brisbane and discuss your requirements with a solar panel installer. You can get a free quote and discuss your requirements.
2. Assess your lighting
Not all lights are created equally, especially when we’re focusing on how to save energy at home. Often the types of bulbs that cost more to purchase initially are cheaper to run and longer-lasting, saving you money in the long run.
Energy Efficient Lighting
Lighting is a substantial energy user for many home and business’ and can make up to 50% of an energy bill. Energy use associated with lighting systems can be drastically reduced if energy efficient lighting practices are adopted.
Incandescent bulbs tend to be the worst offenders, followed by halogen bulbs. Consider switching to LED lights which use less electricity, and last longer.
Using lamps and spotlights is also cheaper than having the main lights on, and of course, you should always turn lights off when you’re not using them. You can contact your local electrician for lighting installation, get quotes and discuss your individual requirements.
Jarvis Electrical is up to date with modern and cost effective technology upgrades in energy efficient lighting. By combining modern looks in lighting with efficient lighting solutions, we can create a visually appealing home or business, reduce your power usage and cut your power bill, all at the same time.
Contact us and we will assist you in becoming more energy efficient!
3. Optimise your thermostat
Heating and cooling costs can get expensive, but that doesn’t mean that you have to suffer through colder winters and sweltering summers.
You can save on your electricity bill by setting the heating to between 18-20 degrees in summer, as each degree above this can add approximately 10% to the running costs. In winter, set the thermostat to about 25 degrees, as each degree below this can also add 10%.
Keeping doors, windows, and curtains closed will also mean that your heaters and air conditioners don’t have to work as hard, further reducing electricity usage.
For more information on individual devices or installations checkout ceiling fan installation page and air conditioning installation page.
4. Insulate your home
Another way to reduce your heating and cooling costs is with insulation. This helps to keep your home cool in the summer and retain heat during the winter, reducing the excessive usage of heaters and air conditioning.
If your home is already insulated, it’s still worth doing some research to check that you have the best insulation in each area of the home. Pay particular attention to the roof, which is a common offender for letting air escape throughout the day.
5. Optimise your older appliances
Check that your older appliances like fridge or washing machine is energy efficient and up to date. Older appliances often don’t run at peak performance, which means that they end up using more energy and costing you more money.
Hot water system uses a lot of power, so washing your laundry on a cold setting can have a huge impact on your electricity bill. Whilst hot water generally does a better job of cleaning, cold water is fine for most day-to-day laundry. You can also check your washing machine for any eco settings.
Consider cutting out one load per week by only putting on full loads and the savings will add up by the end of the year.
Your fridge temperature should be set to 4-5 degrees, and the freezer should be set to between -15 and -18 degrees. Furthermore, both should be kept in cool and well-ventilated spots away from the oven and out of direct sunlight.
It is also important to check that seals on fridges and freezers are airtight. Leaky or inefficient seals mean that the appliances have to work harder to keep cool, using more energy in the process.
6. Dry your laundry efficiently
Washing lines are free to use, whereas your tumble dryer is not. Try to use the washing line wherever possible if you’re trying to cut down your electricity bill. If you usually use the dryer 4 times per week, using the washing line 50% of the time could save you approximately $100 per year depending on your dryer.
If you must use the tumble dryer, you may be interested to learn that adding a dry towel into the load can significantly reduce drying time, leading to large savings on your energy bill.
7. Unplug your electronics
Appliances that are plugged in when not in use could be adding over $100 per year to your energy bills. All things plugged in will bleed some energy. It’s also known as “standby” electricity loss.
If you want to know how to save energy in the home, unplugging phone chargers, televisions, microwaves, dishwashers, and other appliances is a simple solution.
If you tend to forget to unplug your appliances, invest in a smart power board that prevents standby electricity for you.
8. Take shorter showers
To round off our guide on how to save electricity here is a simple but effective tip. As mentioned earlier, hot water is expensive so cutting down every shower by as little as five minutes can reduce energy usage significantly over the course of the year.
Fitting a low-flow showerhead will also reduce energy usage and pay for itself in the long term.
As accredited qualification holders in Electrical Energy Efficiency, Jarvis Electrical are ‘Green Electricians’. This means that we can advise you on all areas of making your home or business more energy efficient and therefore cost effective.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED ADVICE ON INSTALLATION OF AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE THEN FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US.