With electricity costs taking a large chunk of your bills budget, taking steps to reduce your power usage is very sensible. Here are 8 steps you can take to cut your power bill and save money:
1. Swap to Energy Efficient Lighting
Lighting can contribute a surprising amount to your power bill, especially old-style incandescent tubes, or halogen light bulbs. If you use energy efficient light globes instead, not only do they use less electricity, but they last longer too.
2. Adjust the Temperature
Heating and cooling can be very expensive if you’re not sensible about it. When heating, set the temperature to between 18 and 20 degrees – each degree above 20 can add 10% to the running costs. In summer, set the temperature to 25 or 26 degrees. Every degree below 25 can add around 10% to the running costs.
3. Close the Doors and Curtains
Keeping doors and curtains closed is one way of keeping your heating and cooling working efficiently. Consequently, this will save you from higher electricity bills. Another way to help this is by blocking the draughts around your house in order to trap air inside.
4. Hang Your Clothes to Dry
Take advantage of the sunshine and hot weather in Australia by drying your clothes on the line outside instead of relying on an electric clothes dryer.
5. Heated Towel Rails
Use timers on your heated towel rails. This will ensure you always have dry towels when you need them but are not using any more power than necessary.
6. Smart use of Appliances
Only run appliances such as the dishwasher and washing machine when you have a full load. Some appliances have a ‘half-load’ option, but it is still better to utilise the space available and run the machine full.
7. Insulate your Home
Insulation helps keep your home cooler in summer and warmer in winter, meaning that you don’t need to use your air conditioning or heater as much to keep the house comfortable. The roof is one of the major areas where heat loss occurs, so by insulating it you’re preventing warm air from escaping throughout winter.
8. Install Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans will move warm air down in winter and up in summer. This is especially helpful if your house has high ceilings. Warm air rises and a fan will bring it back down to where it is needed when the house is cooler in winter.
There are plenty of other ways you can cut your power bill but these will give you a good start. Remember to contact Well Connected Electrical Services for all your electrical needs!