Saving Money On Your Energy Bills
By adopting some simple smart energy-saving measures in your home you can reduce energy wastage and use energy wisely. You will save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while meeting your convenience and comfort needs.
Appliances And Lights
One of the most obvious ways to save energy in your home is to turn off the television and other appliances at the power point when they are not in use. Many appliances such as gaming consoles and televisions power down to a ‘stand-by’ mode and still draw power even when they are turned off at the switch or by the remote.
Additionally, always avoid leaving lights on that aren’t necessary. Your choice of light bulbs may also have an impact on your energy bill. Certain types require more electricity than others resulting in higher energy costs. Do a little research to find out which variety will work best for you.
Keep Your Cool
During the warm spring and summer months, it’s best to keep all appliances that give off a lot of heat away from the air-conditioner thermostat. If you don’t, your home may appear hotter than it actually is and the air-conditioner will have to work harder. This equates to more energy being used and more money spent on energy costs.
Thinking more about heat, it’s a good idea to avoid excessive use of the oven when it’s hot outside. During the warm weather months, the oven can quickly cause your home’s interior to heat up. This means the air conditioner will be working harder to cool your home’s interior, increasing your energy consumption and your power bills. One alternative you should consider is using the barbeque outside.
Shop Smart
Whether you have outdated appliances or are simply looking to furnish a new home, it’s a good idea to keep energy efficiency in mind when shopping for new appliances. Although energy-efficient models may be more expensive, they can save you money in the long run by cutting your energy costs every month.
Heating & Cooling
If you want to save a substantial amount of money, take a close look at your heating and cooling costs, these can make up over 50% of a family’s energy bill. When it comes to heating or cooling, make sure that the thermostat is adjusted at night. Consider leaving your air-conditioner off when the home is empty to avoid wasting energy. Make sure that filters for both heating and cooling units are replaced or cleaned regularly as this can have a large impact on efficiency.
Sun Sense & Solar
In the summer, leave your curtains and/or blinds closed to reduce heat from the sun entering your home, as this will cause your air-conditioner to work harder. In the warmer days in winter, open your curtains in order to get the most out of the sun’s warm rays.
Windows and glass are poor insulators and can have a large impact on your energy bills. Heat passes through them into your home just as easily as your cooled air-conditioned air dissipates out in summer.
Installing a solar panel and inverter system is well worth considering. Although the upfront cost may seem a huge expense, the reality is it will pay for itself in a relatively short time. Most systems, designed correctly for your home, will pay for themselves in as little as five years. Over the lifetime of the system (up to 25 years) your solar system can save you thousands.
Money Saving Energy Facts
- Washing clothes in cold rather than hot water could save you around $124 a year
- Getting rid of the second fridge could save you around $155 a year.
- Using a clothesline instead of an electric dryer once a week could save you around $69 a year.
- Switching off gaming consoles after use (at the wall) could save you up to $169 a year.
Rising energy costs are in the news and prompting homeowners to take a fresh look at energy consumption. The good news is there's plenty you can do to lower your power bills and lots of resources online to help you save while maintaining the comfort levels you are used to.
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