Both households and businesses are putting energy efficiency first due to increasing costs of electricity, and growing awareness of the environment. You can benefit by working with an electrician or by changing operational behaviours and making physical changes, that will help you lower your electricity bill. Here are five ways to save money on electricity on a day-to-day basis through how you use electricity:
1. Upgrade to LED Lighting
Changing your light bulbs from incandescent to LED bulbs is one of the most cost-effective and simple ways to change how you use electricity in your home or business. LED bulbs can use 75% less energy compared to incandescent light bulbs, and last much longer than incandescent light bulbs. While the initial purchase will be slightly more than purchasing incandescent bulbs, you will be saving so much in energy and replacement costs in the long-run.
Talk to an electrician in Crows Nest about your current lighting, and they can help you consider the most efficient light bulb for every area in your home or business.
2. Use Smart Power Strips and Timers
Surprisingly large amounts of energy are consumed due to standby power or phantom load.Smart power strips automatically detect when devices are in the standby position and no longer provide power. Similarly, plug-in timers are available for items such as phone chargers, televisions, and lamps to ensure they are only drawing current when needed.
3. Optimise Your Hot Water System
The cost of heating hot water makes it one of the largest contributors to a residential electricity bill. Reducing the amount of energy consumed by your hot water system can be done by setting your water heater to the ideal temperature of approximately 60°C (for safety and efficiency) and insulating hot water pipes. Additionally, if you have an older existing hot water system, consider upgrading to heat pump hot water systems and/or solar hot water systems for long-term savings. Consult with an electrician to assess your opportunity for an upgrade and/or replacement.
4. Install a Smart Thermostat and Energy Monitoring
Heating and cooling systems consume a significant amount of energy. Using a smart thermostat allows you to program your heating and cooling based on your schedule so that your home doesn’t get heated or cooled when you are not there. By using a smart thermostat in conjunction with energy monitoring, you will gain real-time information on the amount of electricity you consume so that you can quickly identify an area where you can reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
5. Conduct a Regular Electrical Audit
Old or incorrect wiring, faulty connections and appliances that are too old to be efficient can all lead to wastage of energy and danger to you. By hiring the help of an electrical expert in Crows Nest or your local area, they will conduct regular electrical audits to identify where waste can occur through inefficiencies or unsafe electrical conditions as well as suggest modern, energy efficient solutions.
Some of these improvements could include upgrading switchboards, rewiring an old installation, or replacing old, energy-hungry appliances with those bearing the energy star label. These upgrades can not only improve safety, but also significantly reduce energy usage.
The first step in saving energy is to be aware of your own personal use, then taking small actions consistently over time. By developing good habits along with the guidance of a trained electrical professional on what upgrades are available, you can fairly dramatically reduce the amount of electricity you use, in turn lowering your bill and contributing to a more sustainable future.