10 Energy Saving Tips & Tricks from your Local Electrician
Do you know which appliances contribute the most to your electrical bill? In Australia, the top three electrical expenses have occurred through heating and cooling, audio and visual, and hot water. So, how can we reduce the cost of our bill when these are our most commonly used appliances? Our team at North Lakes & Surrounds has a few energy-saving tips and tricks for you.
Heating & Cooling
The biggest expense for Australian homes is heating and cooling, so let us look at ways to optimise your energy efficiency.
- When trying to cool your home, it’s more energy efficient to cool your house slowly over time rather than cranking it up for faster results. Consider putting a timer on your air conditioning to start half an hour before you get home.
- Keep the cold in and the heat out (or vice versa for winter). Door snakes and curtains can come in handy for this.
- Try using a pedestal or ceiling fan if it’s not hot enough for air conditioning.
- Regular service your heater and air conditioner.
Audio Visual
With streaming services popping up left, right, and center, movie nights with friends or family being a great get-together, or even a cheap way to entertain the kids, we are becoming ever-reliable on our TVs for entertainment. So, how can we cut down on the energy bill?
- Choosing the right TV is the first step – always check the energy star ratings.
- Turn the TV when the kids walk away.
- Switch the TV off at the wall when you’ve finished using it.
- Turn off additional appliances such as Play Stations or Xbox’s at the wall when not in use.
Hot Water
Did you know that hot water alone can contribute up to 17% of your household energy usage? Think about where you use hot water and how often and try to cut back where you can.
- The most efficient temperature for your hot water system is 60ºC – check yours out.
- Turn off the hot water system when you go on holiday.
- Consider a solar hot water system.
- Wash clothes with cold water.
- Limit your time in a hot shower.
- Clean all your dirty dishes at the same time.
Extras
Other things around the home that can contribute to a high electrical bill include your laundry, refrigeration, cooking, lighting, and other general appliances such as your computer.
- Your fridge temperature should be below 5°C and your freezer should be set between -15/-18°C. Just remember, for every degree colder, you can increase your running costs by 2–4%.
- If the sun is out, hang your washing on the line – do not use a dryer.
- Use energy-efficient light bulbs of the right wattage.
- Use motion sensor lights or solar lights outdoors.
- When chargers aren’t charging, switch them off at the wall.
- Clean your rangehood exhaust fan.
Contact us
There are many other things you can do to help keep your energy bills down and this is just the beginning. If you want a qualified electrician to give you advice on how to reduce your electric bill, give our team at North Lakes & Surrounds Electrical a call today on (07) 3053 3118 and we can provide a free electrical safety check before reviewing the electrical functionality of your home and providing a tailored plan to help you save each quarter.
