Modern homes come at a high cost. Keeping all the air conditioner, appliances, computers, TVs and water heaters running daily, make the household energy consumption unavoidable. Using less energy will not only keep your money in the pocket but will also help the environment. Using less power helps us save valuable resources such as petrol, oil and gas.

 

You don’t have to live like a caveman to reduce your energy consumptions. Small changes in your lifestyle will have a significant impact in the end.

 

Here are some tips you can implement today to start reducing your bill.

 

Conduct energy audits

An energy audit is a comprehensive inventory of the energy performances of your house.

You should have a professional electrician come to your house and conduct an energy audit at least once a year. You should gather in-depth information and observe how your energy bills fluctuate throughout the year.

 

1. How old is your house?
2. How old is your heating and cooling installations?

 

If you have any problem areas in your home, you’ll be able to allocate and fix those.

 

Inspect appliances regularly

Conduct an appliance inspection at least once a year to examine if they’re functioning correctly. Call professional electrician and let them check for visible unsafe conditions and problems, and be able to repair them on time. This way you’ll exceed their life and will be able to decrease their energy consumption. Be careful of the type of tradesman you choose because only a real pro can adequately handle the task.

 

Install a ceiling fan

 

Ceiling fans cool the room by creating air breezes and stimulus the airflow. A ceiling fan is a perfect solution for those warmer, transitional months between seasons not to mention how energy efficient it is compared to using an air conditioner. Being one of the Units come in different colours and sizes and can also be an excellent accessory to your home decor.

Do you have one? Consider a professional ceiling fan installation.

 

Unplug appliances when not in use

Many people don’t know this, but electronics consume energy while they’re turned off if not unplugged from the outlet. This state is also known as “standby power” and has a huge impact on your final electricity bill.

 

Start unplugging chargers, TVs and any other electrical appliance when not in use. You can use the power strip and plugin as many electronics as you want, as long as you don’t overload the grid, which might bring the need for a switchboard upgrade. It is best to shut units off when you leave your home or you’re not using your electronics.

 

Close doors and windows

Cooling the house with an air conditioner during the hot months can be expensive not to mention the impact on nature.

 

Тo reduce the cost:

1. Close all doors and cool only the room you’re in.
2. Close your window drapes during the day to block hot waves entering your room.
3. Adjust the temperature of the cooler to not more than 5 degrees above that of the weather outside. Otherwise, you risk overworking the unit.

 

Install exterior shutter blinds

Another way to keep the heat out throughout a hot summer day is by installing exterior shutter blinds. Blinds are easy to place and you can instantly control when to open and close. Closed shutter blinds prevent UV light flowing in your home and will thus minimize your cooling bill.

 

Shutter blinds also provide privacy and can be a wonderful addition to your exterior design.

 

Turn off the lights

Turning off the lights when you’re living in a room is another simple action with a significant impact. Use natural light during the day and turn it off whenever you don’t need it or use it. Invest in more than one lighting fixture and use overhead bulbs to save even more.

 

Invest in energy-efficient light bulbs

LED light bulbs are made of small light-emitting diodes. They can be found in different shapes and colours and don’t burn out as often as regular light bulbs. LED downlights or bulbs are slightly costlier but rather energy efficient, long-lasting and eco-friendly. Installing such type of bulbs is said to last up to 11 years!

 

Wash clothes on a lower temperature

Most of your clothes can be washed at a 30 degrees temperature and still come out clean and fresh from the washing machine. Run only full loads of clothes and wash at a lower temperature. That way your washing machine won’t need to heat the water to a high temperature and will thus reduce its overall energy consumption.

 

Air dry your laundry

 

Use a folding drying stand or a clothesline outside instead of an electric dryer to reduce the electrical usage of your household. Don’t dry clothes directly on the radiator, because you’ll stop the heat from spreading throughout your home and thus cause the heater to work harder to maintain the temperature you’ve set.

 

Hanging your laundry in the room is a great way to add the extra dash of moisture during the wintertime.

 

Take colder showers

A fast way to reduce electricity consumption is to introduce the short cold shower in your life. Water heaters are one of the biggest energy consumers in our homes. Taking a long hot shower after a long day at work may sound like a great idea, but it also wastes a lot of water.

 

You should also make sure to always turn off the water when shaving, brushing teeth, washing hands or dishes.

 

Be smart with the fridge usage

 

Adjust the fridge and freezer temperature settings. Set the temperature of the fridge between 2°C and 3°C and the freezer at -18°C. Decrease door openings as much as possible.

 

Eva Bowker from Fantastic Handyman advises defrosting frozen food straight in the fridge. This is not only more hygienic, but also helps in cooling down the refrigerator resulting in using less power to maintain a low temperature. Also, you should let hot food cool down before placing it in your fridge and thus avoid decreasing the temperature in the refrigerator.

 

Conclusion:

Reducing the energy costs of your home most of the time means investing in expensive electronics or make small changes in the way you live. But this efficiency investments can easily become a habit and you won’t only be able to save money but will also help to protect our environment.

 

At Westline Electrical Services we’re one of Perth’s leading electrical contractors. We’re always committed to providing quality electrical services and can help you with all your electrical needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so contact us today if you have any questions.