8 easy ways to reduce your power bill
15th Dec '22 • By Service.com.au
Electricity is one of the essential sources of energy in our homes. While it makes life much easier, one of the downfalls is its cost.
A study by Canstar Blue focused on the average annual electricity bill; it showed that a single-person household bill was at $902, a two-person household was at $1,221, while a three-person household ranged at $1,281. A four-person household bill is higher at $1,631.
Regardless of the cost, you can’t live without electricity. Therefore, you should focus more on the ways to reduce your electricity bills instead. If you notice that your bills are unusually high, it may be best to call an electrician.
To get you started, here are our best tips to reduce your power bill.
Article Overview
- Turn off lights when not in use
- Buy energy-efficient electronics
- Use more natural light
- Check the settings on your appliances
- Regulate your thermostat
- Dry your clothes in open air
- Fix leaky ductwork
- Yearly HVAC maintenance
1. Turn Off Lights When Not in Use
Cutting down your electricity bill starts with simple habits, such as turning off lights when you don’t need them. That way, during the hours that you’re out of your house your electricity isn’t being consumed unnecessarily and can save you a few dollars each month.
For instance, if you use a 60-watt bulb, you’ll save approximately 0.06 kilowatts when your bulb is turned off for an hour. However, the effectiveness of this method depends on the type of bulb you’re using. For instance, incandescent lighting (CFC and halogen) are not the best because 90% of their energy is heat while 10% is light. Therefore, switching them off when not in use would save you a lot. Conversely, LED lighting consumes less energy than incandescent lights.
Always consult with your electrician on the best bulbs or lighting to use for cost-efficiency.
2. Buy Energy-Efficient Appliances/Electronics
Appliances such as electric heaters, refrigerators, televisions, monitors, and ovens use most of the electric energy in a home and cost more to operate. Using energy-efficient appliances or electronics and operating them efficiently makes a significant difference for those who want to reduce electricity bills.
Most modern electronics and home appliances are designed to use less electric power yet function effectively. Their annual operation cost is slightly lower by 9% to 25% compared to the conventional models.
Depending on your budget, you can replace some of your typical appliances and electronics. There are various brands with energy-efficient models. Consider getting a few electrician quotes to install more energy-efficient appliances.
Appliances with energy star rating labels are the best. Some energy-efficient appliances are designed with a standby mode; thus, they don’t shut off completely. Therefore, unplugging these electronics from power when not in use is also a feasible strategy to reduce electricity bills.
3. Use More Natural Light
When your house is well-lit with natural light during the daytime, you will not need artificial lighting. Sufficient natural lighting is achieved through windows and skylights. Also, the external environment surrounding your house plays a critical role in lighting your house, especially during the spring and summer.
Place skylights on the appropriate side of your roof, depending on what you want to achieve. Skylights facing east let you enjoy the morning warmth. Those facing the north allow a cool yet constant illumination. Additionally, skylight windows allow better ventilation into a house. Therefore, you won’t need to use the air conditioner if it’s not necessary, which will reduce your expenses.
Lastly, clean your windows during winter to remove any oils or residue and allow more sunlight into your house. This will also offer more natural warmth.
4. Check the Settings on Your Appliances
Specific settings on appliances highly affect your power consumption. For instance, according to an energy manager at Harvard University, reducing your monitor’s brightness from 100% to 70% can save up to 20% of the energy consumed. He further advises that using your appliances in energy saving/eco-setting mode will significantly lower power consumption.
Similarly, increased brightness and high volumes on your television mean more watts. Therefore, minimising both when necessary will contribute to cutting down the electricity bill. Also be cautious of ensuring that you’re not running your refrigerators on too low of a temperature.
5. Regulate Your Thermostat
Keeping your thermostat at a constant temperature is only convenient if you are away from your house. However, adjusting it will give you the most benefits and save energy when you're in the house.
For instance, turning down your thermostat from the normal settings will reduce the energy consumed since the furnace will run less often. Also, it’s worth lowering the temperature of your thermostat at night while sleeping. It will significantly reduce your electricity bill.
Homeowners can even invest and install better and effective thermostats, i.e., programmable/smart thermostats in their houses. The great benefit is that you set it according to your weekly schedule, and it automatically turns off or cools down the house when necessary. Also, it has indicators that notify you when the HVAC system has issues and when you need to replace the air filters.
6. Dry Your Clothes in Open Air
If there’s sunshine available, dry your clothes on the clothesline outside your house instead of using a tumble dryer. This is one way of reducing the utility costs in your house.
Additionally, line drying of clothes promotes energy conservation since it reduces the average household carbon footprint.
The good thing is that there are several types of clotheslines to choose from, including fold-out clotheslines, the hills hoist, and indoor collapsible folding racks.
7. Fix Leaky Ductwork
It’s no surprise that even well-sealed and insulated ducts can leak. That can highly contribute to increased power consumption. Therefore, fixing air leakage and insulation is essential for saving energy and reducing the bill. It will also enhance your comfort and safety in the house.
8. Yearly HVAC Maintenance
So, how much does an electrician cost? Electricians charge at least $80 per hour, depending on the nature of the job and its complexity. Schedule with an electrician an inspection of your HVAC system for an accurate quote.
It’s going to be more reasonable to pay for maintenance service than expensive repairs or replacing your entire HVAC system. Most importantly, it results in lower electricity bills when such a system is functioning perfectly.
Bottom Line
Reducing your electric electricity bill expenses starts with your habits at home, from how you use the appliances to how long you use them. Additionally, switching to energy-efficient electronics is worthwhile. Lastly, it’s important to prioritise regular repairs and maintenance if you want to ensure all electronics and appliances are functioning perfectly and not consuming excess power.
To get more help with reducing your power bills, get in touch with local electricians today.