Today, we can notice a very concerning trend of electricity bills going up and up, and we can all feel it in our wallets. The energy crisis is happening all over the world, and many governments and individuals are trying their best to promote energy saving, some even by giving incentives for big energy savers. So if you want to spare your bank account some trouble and reduce your electricity needs, here are a few things you can try today:
Use a fan
Those who live somewhere hot like Australia, often run their air conditioners almost all year round, especially during the summer. But, ACs require a lot of energy to run and can make your energy consumption skyrocket. To prevent that from happening, try using a ceiling fan instead of reaching for your AC or touching the thermostat. Ceiling fans are actually very effective in keeping the temperatures down, and they can keep a room full 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. Plus, your ceiling fan is a very low-energy spender, using only 10% of the energy that a central AC requires for its operation, which also looks pretty attractive in any living room, sunroom or bedroom and provides users with relaxing white noise.
Program your thermostat
Here’s a great trick for saving a lot of energy every year: take your thermostat and dial it down by 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours every day. This easy trick can save you up to 10% of your yearly electricity bill! This change in temperature can be done in the old-fashioned way—by changing the setting on your thermostat in the morning and evening. If this is something you often forget, you can also opt for a smart thermostat that can be programmed to do this temperature change by itself. This will prevent you from having to wreck your brain, plus it’s a relatively cheap upgrade from your old thermostat. Some programmable thermostat models cost a little over $20 or $30!
Speaking of smart tech, smart thermostats also allow you to change the temperature remotely, by using your smartphone, so you can adjust the temp just before you get home from work or while you’re lounging in your bed comfortably. Some high-tech models even come equipped with geofencing. This feature uses your smartphone location, sensing when you’re coming home and automatically adjusting your temperature—pretty neat, right?
Improve your lighting habits
There are so many ways you can save electricity and money on lighting; you just have to improve your illumination habits. Firstly, ditch your old bulbs for something more modern like CFLs or LEDs which require up to 90% less energy than those old bulbs, AND they have a much longer life. Next, you can use motion sensors and dimmers on certain light fixtures. Your outdoor spaces, pantry, laundry room and similar spaces can be equipped with motion sensors that will turn off the lights when no one is there and prevent unnecessary waste. Dimmers are also great for certain rooms that don’t always need 100% illumination. If you can’t deal with electricity and lighting alone, you can call a pro electrician. In many places, like Australia, only licensed professionals can touch electricity and wiring so, find experts in electricity maintenance in Sydney and have them deal with your lighting and LED repairs and maintenance. This is the safest and best way to ensure the longevity of your wiring, fixtures and bulbs.
Use your dishwasher
This tip might seem contradictory, but washing dishes this way can save a lot of resources. If you use a new model of Energy Star-labeled dishwashers instead of washing by hand, you can save thousands of gallons of water, but also some nice money on energy bills. Plus, you’ll gain almost 230 hours of your life back! And if your washer has an air-dry option, just pop open the door and let the air do the job. This way, you can reduce your dishwasher’s energy use by 15% to 50%, especially if you always run a full load.
Avoid phantom energy leaks
Phantom energy leaks are not anything paranormal, but it’s a literal horror how much energy they can waste, so you better banish them from your home. Phantom energy is the occurrence of appliances using up energy when they are turned off, mostly to power lights and LED screens or run some background processes. What you can do to prevent phantom leaks is grab your cords and unplug them when the devices are not in use. This simple move will save you a great amount of energy. According to some calculations, an average family can save over $160 per year on this energy-saving trick alone!
In the future, we can only expect new price rises of electricity, so these energy-saving tips will come even handier. Keep them in mind when studying your bills and see how you can incorporate them into your day.