Our world runs on electricity — and let’s face it, we just can’t imagine living a single day without it. Of course, that doesn’t mean we like paying for energy bills; especially if they’re higher than we expected.
Most of us think that we’re running an energy-efficient household and we’re not wasteful with electricity. In reality, however, there’s a huge number of factors that affect our power bill — and we’re not aware of most of them.
Don’t worry, though — power costs can be reduced. And we’re going to show you how with a couple of useful tips right here!
Energy-efficient appliances
The appliances we use around the house account for a huge part of our energy consumption. That’s why you should consider investing in new air conditioners, clothes dryers, washing machines, and fridges that are more energy and water-efficient. It might put a dent in your savings right now, but it’ll help your long-term power expenses.
When buying new appliances, make sure you take a look at their water and energy rating — that’ll help you choose the ones that are cheapest to maintain energy-wise. Also, even if you don’t plan on buying new appliances — your current ones likely have eco-modes for some of their functions, so try to use them more often.
Doing laundry
Believe it or not, you can save a ton of money by doing your laundry in a more energy-mindful manner. First of all, you can get a cold water detergent and use cold water for your laundry — most of the power spent by your washing machine goes to heating water anyway.
Also, make sure you fully load your washing machine every time — it spends the same amount of electricity regardless of how many clothes are inside. Plus, you can set it on economy wash and save further energy if your machine has such an option.
Once the washing is done, you can save a lot of money by avoiding the dryer as much as possible. Sure, your clothes will take longer to dry, and it’s not as practical — but an indoor rack placed near a window or the sun outside will do the job and help you cut down your power bills too.
Heating and cooling
Did you know that every degree of additional heating and cooling means your power usage rises by 5% to 10 per cent? This is one of the biggest sources of power consumption in your home — and it’s also where you can save the most money if you play it smart.
First, you want to close the blinds, curtains, windows, and doors in areas that you’re heating or cooling — that way, more air will stay inside and your HVAC system won’t need to work as hard and spend as much energy. Also, make sure you clean your air conditioning filters two or three times a year if you want it to run at maximum efficiency.